World Halal Forum opens in Malaysia

The Malaysia-initiated World Halal Forum (WHF) on Monday kicked off its second edition of annual conference here.

Nearly 900 participants from more than 30 countries and regions, comprising of industry players, researchers and government officials, gathered in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center for the two-day event.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who officiated the opening ceremony, reiterated his government's commitment to developing the halal industry and building Malaysia into an international hub for the production and distribution of halal products.

"The WHF together with its partner event the Malaysian International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) have been included in Malaysia's 15 Year Industrial Master Plan as annual events to boost the development of the halal sector," Badawi said in his keynote speech.

The prime minister announced the formation of the International Halal Integrity (IHI) Alliance, a non-governmental, non-profit organization that will become the body representing the various stakeholders in the global halal industry.

"I am pleased to note that the WHF is the secretariat for the alliance ... We offer Malaysia to be host venue for the IHI Alliance," said Badawi, who is also finance minister.

At the opening ceremony, the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HIDC), a wholly-owned entity of the Malaysian government created for the development of the halal industry, inked three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

The three MoUs include one on information and communication technology system with Microsoft Malaysia, one on financial service with the CIMB Islamic Bank and one on human resources development with Chulalongkorn University of Thailand.

The HIDC is also expected to sign two MoUs with China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and a company from the United Arab Emirates respectively on Tuesday.

At the forum themed "Harmonizing the Global Halal Market", issues for discussion include market trends in the global food industry, solutions in the halal ingredient sector, halal products standard, etc.

The inaugural WFH was held in May 2006. The halal concept includes but is not limited to halal food and beverage. It can also apply to other products such as pharmaceuticals and Islamic finance.

Source: Xinhua