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Pakistan is emerging as a global leader of Islamic Microfinance

salama — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:07:49 +0000

Pakistan is emerging as a global leader of Islamic Microfinance: Zubair Mughal

UN-Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) can be achieved by eliminating Poverty through Islamic Microfinance:

01-02-2012

(Istanbul) A two day International summit on Islamic Microfinance has started in Istanbul. The basic purpose behind this summit is to promote Islamic Microfinance and to elucidate the strategy to remove obstacles from its way to progress. Microfinance experts from different continents like Africa, Asia, Europe and America etc. are participating in this Int’l summit. While speaking to the opening session of the Summit, Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics said that Pakistan has been acknowledged as a leader of Islamic Microfinance Industry and right now in Pakistan; more than 20 institutions are providing microfinance services. While highlighting the importance of Islamic microfinance, he said that around the world, conventional Microfinance has badly failed and its examples can be clearly seen in India and Latin America. He further added that due to the failure of conventional financial system, many countries in the world are adapting Islamic microfinance system for poverty alleviation through which not only poverty will be eradicated but also a sustained economy shall come into being in these countries.

While addressing to the International Summit, he further added that one reason behind expansion of Poverty is interest base mechanism in Muslim countries, People do not use Financial and Banking system due to interest as it is strictly prohibited in Islam hence forced to live in poverty whereas through Islamic Microfinance by using the financial products based on Shari’ah principles, we can get the people out from poverty. He further highlighted the need assessment of Islamic microfinance in Muslim Countries by saying that 44% of conventional Microfinance clients live in Muslim Countries and United Nations has added half of the countries of Islamic Development Bank in the list of least developed countries which shows that Islamic Microfinance can be used to eradicate poverty from Muslim-Majority Counties. While identifying the Muslim population and poverty in different regions of the world, he said that 85.5% in East Asia, 34% in South Asia, 58% in West Africa, 58% in Caucasus and 97.3% in MENA are Muslims and collectively, in 2.4 Billion population of these regions, Muslims are of 48.3% which clearly shows the need of Islamic Microfinance for poverty alleviation in these countries. He further added that not only Muslims but Non-Muslims can also get benefits from Islamic Microfinance because Islamic Microfinance is not a religion but a system which is equally useful for Muslims and Non Muslims as well and the clear example of this fact is that Non-Muslims consider it very attractive.

He said that Islamic Microfinance is essential to achieve Millennium Development Goals( MDGs), proposed by United Nations for alleviating poverty and social uplifting. He further added that if development of Islamic Microfinance starts right from today, these goals can easily be achieved till 2015. He said that Islamic Microfinance sector is facing difficulties due to apathy of Donors and to fulfill this deficiency, Sukuk (Islamic Bonds) can be issued. He further said that more financial products can be introduced by enhancing research in the field of Islamic microfinance and there are many opportunities for development in this field. AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics has established a specific Microfinance help desk so that trainings, research and technical consultation could be provided to Microfinance Institutions worldwide.

In this Summit, the role of Pakistan in the development of Islamic Microfinance has very much appreciated and Pakistan is considered to be as global leader of Islamic Microfinance Industry. This conference will continue for 2 days in Istanbul.

Turkey: Union demands new constitution include ‘halal consumption’

salama — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:25:09 +0000

Parliament should include an article to protect Turkish citizens’ rights to consume goods that are produced in accordance with their religious teachings in the planned new constitution, Food Auditing and Certification Research Association (GIMDES) Chairman Hüseyin Kami Büyüközer told Today’s Zaman, adding they expect to convey such a suggestion to Ankara shortly.

Büyüközer’s remarks come amid the latest reports of an alleged clash between private certifiers and the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) regarding the certification of halal products in Turkey. There were reports in the media on Friday saying the TSE felt uncomfortable with some private certifiers issuing certificates without the institute’s consent. With an estimated global trade volume of $2 trillion, halal products have gained importance in recent years, and halal products are in high demand worldwide. Turkey lacked a certification system until recently as G?MDES became the first body to issue halal certificates in Turkey. The TSE announced earlier the institution was the only official and legal body to issue halal certificates, asking companies to send their applications to the institution. Halal standards apply to a wide range of production processes, including the packaging, labeling, transportation and logistics of goods.

Büyüközer said halal certification should be made independent of governments. “This business should be controlled by an internationally accepted umbrella organization that could be established with the participation of independent clerics and experts,” he added. The GIMDES head said the same rule applies not only to “Islamic products” but also to such goods produced in accordance with the rules of other religions. Büyüközer said there are examples of international halal certifying bodies in various countries such as Malaysia; however, these have not been approved by all members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).“The OIC members have failed to unite under one single halal certifying body, so countries have introduced their own separate rules.”

The OIC actually has a halal standardization body, namely the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC). Out of 56 OIC members only 11 have so far approved the SMIIC, meaning a widely accepted certification body still remains a challenge for Islamic nations. “This is why we call on the Turkish government and other countries to unite under one single body, while at the same time protecting the right to consume these products. … This is the only way we can forge a healthy and respected global halal market,” the GIMDES head argued.

Todays Zaman

Businessmen unveil plans for ‘Muslim Facebook’

salama — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:53:44 +0000

A group of Muslim businessmen unveiled plans in Turkey on Thursday for a Facebook-style social networking site with “healthy values” for a young, Islamic audience.

SalamWorld.com, which will make its internet debut next year, “will seek to unify the youth in a common vision and the healthy values of Islam while attempting to not diffuse any unhealthy information,” said Akhmed Azimov, the initiative’s vice-president.

Based in Istanbul, with offices in Moscow and Cairo and coordinators in 30 countries, the site hopes to attract 50 million users within three years, Azimov told about 150 journalists from Muslim countries at the company’s luxurious Istanbul offices.

“The heart of the project is to create a network without any content that is prohibited by religion,” said Azimov, a Dagestan native. “To achieve this, we will have a big team of moderators and there will be filters.

“We also count on users to moderate themselves and to filter the contents.”

Azimov declined to discuss funding details but said “there’s no problem with that,” adding the investors were a group of businessmen from the Muslim world.

Beyond user-generated content, the site will offer services such as theological consultations and city guides that list mosque locations and halal food stores.

“We’re going to try to create an online encyclopedia, a sort of Islamic Wikipedia,” Azimov said.

Turkey: OIC Chief Identifies Key Issues To Unlock Intra-Islamic Trade And Travel Potential

hamid — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:30:33 +0000

1. OIC Chief Identifies Key Issues To Unlock Intra-Islamic Trade And Travel Potential

Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation Of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has outlined a number of issues that are restricting the growth of economic development and business/trade potential in the Islamic countries.

Speaking at the 27th session of the OIC’S Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), held between 17-20 October in Istanbul, he urged the ministers and government officials present to help remove the bottlenecks and clear the bureaucratic and legal hurdles to facilitate implementation of the various plans and resolutions.

COMCEC is responsible for promoting trade cooperation and economic integration among the Islamic countries. It is one of three permanent committees of the OIC formed in 1984 in line with a resolution taken at an Islamic summit, held in Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 1981. Turkey was chosen to host COMCEC’s headquarters and offices of its Secretariat General.

COMCEC held an historic Economic Summit in 2009, and the 26th COMCEC Session last year. In line with the OIC Ten Year Plan of Action, these meetings have adopted various “innovative strategies” to boost intra-OIC economic and commercial relations in areas such as trade, agriculture, rural development and food security, and poverty alleviation.

The OIC has sought “the constructive engagement of (OIC) Member States to deepen ownership and to ensure that our joint programmes and projects are implemented without delay. Dr Ihsanoglu said that the OIC has also expanded our network of coordination with the various OIC, regional and international organisations and institutions, in order to increase coordination and synergy so as to fast-track the implementation of our joint plans.”

Here is an edited text of the rest of his speech:

The OIC Trade Preferential System (TPS-OIC), which is composed of the Framework Agreement, a Protocol, and the Agreement of the Rules of Origin, has now become legally operational. However, efforts are now underway to ensure that Member States, which have so far ratified these instruments, should begin to take advantage of the tariff and non-tariff facilities to expand trade among their countries.

It is high time that this meeting should adopt a strong resolution to call for the resumption of the OIC Trade Negotiation Rounds. This will give effect to our numerous resolutions on trade expansion and trade facilitation. There is also the utmost need for this meeting to call on Member States, which have not signed or ratified these trade promoting instruments to do so in the interest of our collective desire for greater wealth creation and increased welfare of the peoples of our Member States.

Intra-OIC trade figures have continued to rise since 2005, notwithstanding the recent global economic downturn. This is due to the combined effect of our increased trade financing and trade promotion activities. The share of Intra-OIC Trade increased from 14.5 % in 2004 to 17.03% in 2010. This means, in monetary terms, that the value of Intra-OIC trade increased from US$ 205 billion in 2004 to US$ 539 billion in 2010. Similarly, the share of OIC Member States in world trade increased from 8.0 % in 2004 to 10.5 % in 2010. There is no doubt that if this trend continues, the target of attaining 20% of intra-OIC trade, which was set in the OIC Ten Year Programme of Action would be realized by the year 2015.

The twin objectives of achieving economic growth and poverty reduction could be realized through the implementation of the ongoing OIC strategies on agriculture, rural development and food security.

Despite the estimated number of 230 million persons in OIC Member States who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition, 90% of the world children with inadequate growth live in 36 of our Member States. Equally depressing is the fact that our Member States have to fund a combined food deficit of US$40 billion per year. This had indeed aggravated the Balance of Payments problems occasioned by the need to pay for the ever increasing oil and energy imports.

The mere fact that these alarming statistics can be addressed by mobilizing the huge opportunities within the OIC, therefore, calls for our concerted action in this regard. The vibrancy of OIC economy is evident in the increasing Gross Domestic Product of OIC Member States from a modest US$ 2 trillion in 2004 to US$ 8 trillion in 2010. OIC Member States now accounts for 11% of world GDP as against 5.36% in 2004.

In the same vein, 23 OIC Member States feature among the world top 20 producers of different agricultural commodities varying from cereals to tropical crops. The impressive arable land in OIC Member States, which stands at 21% of the world figure and the renewable water resources accounting for 14% of world figure are pointers to the fact that intra-OIC cooperation in agriculture is a credible driver of economic growth and social development in our countries.

The 6th Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agriculture Development took place here in Istanbul, on 3-6 October 2011. The recommendations of the Conference are aimed at increasing our joint projects and programmes in the domain of agricultural capacity-building and productivity. It is also aimed at deepening regional partnership for the implementation of our respective national priorities on agriculture and rural development.

The recommendation for the elaboration of a comprehensive OIC Executive Framework on Agriculture, Rural development and Food Security has been passed to the COMCEC Task Force for further technical inputs. It is important that the Framework would serve as a platform to deepen ownership among OIC Member States and its numerous institutions so that we can overcome the existing constraint of the lack of inclusiveness in our cooperation framework.

This Framework should also identify critical areas for public and private partnerships in the development of strategic commodities and promotion of agricultural value-addition from farm-to-market. This approach is reflected in the outcome of both the Workshop on Agro-food and Agri-business, and the OIC Forum on Development of Agro-Food Industries held concurrently in Kampala, Uganda just last week.

The recommendation for a study on the creation of an OIC Agro-Industrial Association would promote the needed value-addition for enhanced agricultural output in OIC Member States. While commending the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) for the successful holding of the Workshop, I am sure that the findings of the expert group would advance the role of the Private Sector in our cooperation strategies, while largely contributing to improving on the execution of OIC projects.

The issue of deepening ownership of OIC programmes has become very crucial as we seek to accelerate the implementation of our cooperation agenda. In this regard, some shortcomings exist as manifested in the lack of prompt responses by some of the OIC institutions to various requests, questionnaires, and circulars sent from the OIC General Secretariat.

For example, the fact that only three members responded to the two questionnaires on Tourism Facilitation; and Tourism Research and Training have not encouraged our respective focal points to complete their tasks in these areas. Similarly, only 15 Member States submitted the questionnaires on Strategies and Policies in the area of Agriculture, Rural development and Food Security. This latter situation has delayed the speedy execution of the mandate given by the sectoral Conference on Agriculture and Food Security.

I seek the personal intervention of Honorable Ministers to encourage their officials to submit these documents, which are necessary for proper coordination of intra-OIC actions in the relevant domains.

It is indeed the same spirit of deepening ownership that has informed the on-going reappraisal of the performance of the OIC Cotton Action Plan. Since its inception in 2007, only a few of the total number of 27 approved projects, amounting to US$373 million, has received the necessary funding to ensure its implementation. I wish to hereby urge our Heads of Delegations to support the on-going efforts of the General Secretariat and the Islamic Development Bank to secure additional funding sources by submitting detailed bankable projects through the appropriate national channels.

The General Secretariat has intensified its cooperation with the various regional organisations and international institutions with a view to mobilizing additional resources for its projects. For example, the OIC has received the support of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on our proposal to create an alliance between its Dakar-Djibouti Transport Corridor and the OIC Dakar-Port Sudan Railway Project.

Actions towards mobilizing the US$8 billion component of the Special Programme for the Development of Africa (SPDA) have continued. At the same time, measures are underway to improve the effectiveness of the Programme by identifying and implementing cross-cutting and regional projects in its five priority domains, which are: agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, energy and transport infrastructure, education and youth employment, and health and combating communicable diseases.

Similarly, the proposed OIC Action Plan for Cooperation with Central Asia is aimed at implementing the OIC initiative of regional approach to economic cooperation among OIC Member-States. In this regard, our closer collaboration with the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) is expected to speed up implementation of our economic cooperation projects. It is my sincere hope that this regional approach would go a long way to promote socio-economic renewal in these countries, as much as it would also serve as a sustainable means of socio-political harmony and conflict prevention.

I welcome the outcome of first meeting of the Executive Committee on the OIC Plan of Action for Central Asia, which was held on the sideline of this COMCEC Session. It is my sincere hope that the necessary partnerships would be developed to scale up the implementation of the many lofty objectives of the Plan.

Let me urge this audience to encourage their national development funds to assist in funding OIC projects. Our experiments under the Malaysia Capacity Building Programme in the three countries under the first pilot phase, as well as the declared assistance under the Kuwait Fund for Decent Living indicate that these provide actual sources of funding for our intra-OIC poverty reduction projects.

I also commend the increasing involvement of Private Sector establishments in our project elaboration and implementation mechanisms. I congratulate the President of IDB group on the recent approval, whereby the authorized capital stock of the International Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Investments and Export Credit (ICIEC) was increased from US$240 million to US$640 million. The role of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is also effective in our desire to mainstream the Private Sector in our cooperation framework.

Furthermore, the current support extended by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) on the proposed establishment of the Federation of Road Transport Associations in OIC Member States is commendable. Equally commendable is the biennial specialized trade fairs sponsored by the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD).

Successful work (has been) carried out by the World Islamic Economic Forum for the enhancement of economic and trade cooperation among the OIC member states as well as non-OIC countries. The expansion of these activities, along with the activities of the ICCI, would generate the desired momentum for multi-sectoral activities within the OIC.

These potential funding sources would indeed to complement the substantial achievements, which we have so far recorded in our trade and development financing schemes. Accordingly, in 2010, the approvals by International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), one of the IDB Group members, on trade financing reached US$ 2.62 billion, which brings the cumulative trade finance approval of trade financing of IDB to US$ 36.96 billion.

I acknowledge the enormous contributions of the various OIC institutions and international organisations for their dedicated support, which has facilitated our demarches to scale up the implementation of the objectives of the OIC Ten Year Programme of Action. We are convinced that the partnerships, which we seek to consolidate in the relevant fields would serve the interests of our common Member States, much as we also seek to continue to support the global efforts for a more stable and prosperous world.

Turkey: D8 members to discuss joint projects

salama — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:02:02 +0000

Industry ministers from a group of eight developing countries (D8) will discuss joint projects among the member states in an upcoming meeting in Turkey’s Istanbul.

The second meeting of industry ministers of D8 will be held in the city on Oct. 4-5, 2011.

Participants will discuss jointly manufacturing a car, adopting policies on energy and environmental issues, observing food standard — halal food in particular — and joint petrochemical plans, IRNA reported on Sunday.

The meeting will also seek to increase current potentials and raising the trade of steel in the group.

Earlier, Turkey’s foreign ministry announced that four members of D8 — comprising Iran, Turkey, Nigeria and Malaysia — have enforced preferential tariffs in their trade.

The preferential tariffs were put into effect on August 25, following the ratification of a preferential trade agreement between the four members of D8, a statement by the Turkish foreign ministry read.

The first meeting of the industry ministers of the D8 was held in Tehran on March 2, 2010.

Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh and Indonesia are D8 members.

Turkey: 4th Int’l Halal and Nutritious Food Conference

salama — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:26:05 +0000

4^th International Halal and Nutritious Food Conference
The 4^th International Halal and Nutritious Food Conference will be held simultaneously with the Halal & Healthy Products Fair by GIMDES with a topic of “Importance of a global single standard for increasing Halal food trade”. Topics such as global halal applications, halal certification programs, an opportunity for Islamic certificate institutions to find a common standard, methods of benefiting from these programs in the global and local markets and producer-consumer approaches to the Halal concept will be discussed during the conference. State representatives, consumer organizations, food industry professionals and academicians along with NGO representatives will gather during the conference.

PROGRAMME

13-14 October 2011

13 October 2011, Thursday

09:00 – 9:15 Qur’an and Prayer

09:15 – 09:30 Opening Ceremony and welcome speech

Dr. Hüseyin Büyüközer, GIMDES President

09:30 – 11:00 Welcoming remarks by the local protocol

11:00 -13: 1^st Session

TOPIC :Implementation and Application of Unified Halal Standards Worlwide

Moderator : Prof. Dr. Ahmet
Akgündüz, Rector of
Rotterdam Islam University, NETHERLANDS

11.00-11.25
Dr.Muhamad Nadratuzzaman Hosen, Treasurer for
National Shariah Council of MUI-Treasurer for Indonesian Council of Ulama
(MUI)) INDONESIA

Unified
Halal Standards Worldwide

11.25-11.50
Prof. Dr. Hamdi Döndüren, Uluda? University Faculty of Theology TURKEY

Is managed the universal qualified halal food certification possible in Islamic dimensions?

11.50-12.15 Ass.Prof.Dr.
Tevhit Ayengin, 18 March University Faculty of Theology TURKEY

Proposals for a single global standard

12.15-12.40 Fatih Kalender, Fiqh Expert, GIMDES Fatwah Council
Member TURKEY

Halal Certificate in Islam

12:40 – 13:05 Questions and Answers

13:05 -14:00 Lunch and Prayer

14:00 – 16:00 2nd Session

TOPIC:Halalness of Transgenic Foods

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Hasan Doiruyol, Uludai University,Department of Pediatric Surgery, TURKEY

14.00-14.25
Prof. Dr.Mehmet Günay, Sakarya University, Dean of Faculty of Theology TURKEY

Fiqh Aspect of GMO Food

14.25-14.50 Prof. Dr. Shuaimi Mustafa, Putra University, Molecular Biologist, Deputy Director of HPRI, MALAYSIA

Halalness of Transgenic Foods

14.50-15.15 Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr, President of Foundation for Islamic Knowledge, USA

Transforming Biotechnology Products

15.15-15.40 Dr. Halim Ayd?n, Head of MÜSIAD Food and Agriculture Council, GIMDES Science Council member, TURKEY

Starting Halal Food from Halal Embryo and Seed

15:40 -16:00 Questions and Answers

16:00 – 16:20 Tea Break

16:20 – 18:00 3rd Session

TOPIC: Halal Certification and related problems in non-Muslim countries Halal Products Trade between Muslim Countries

Moderator; Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakçi, ISNA Council Member, USA

16.20-16.45 Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akgündüz, Rotterdam Islam Universityi Rector, NETHERLAND

Halal Food Problems and Solutions in European Countries

16.45-17.10 Muhammad Mazhar Hussaini, President of AHF(American Halal Foundation), USA

Halal Certification and related problems in non-Muslim countries

17.10-17.35 Prof. Dr.Ömer Torlak, Eski’ehir Osman Gazi University, Faculty of Economy, TURKEY

Economic, Social and Moral Importance of Halal Commodity Trading Between Islamic Countries

17.35- 18.00 Questions and Answers

14 October 2011, Friday

9:00 – 9:15 Quran And Prayer

9:15 -11:15 4^thSession

TOPIC :Affects of vegetable oils and margarines on Human Health

Moderator Dr. Halim Aydin, Head of MÜSIAD Food and Agriculture Council, GIMDES Science Council member,TURKEY

9.15-9.40:Prof.Dr.Ender Serin, Baikent University, Department of Gastroenterology TURKEY

Place of oils in human health

9.40-10.05: Prof.Dr. Mehmet Alpaslan, Inönü University Ass.Dean of Engineering Faculty and Head of Food Engineering Dept. TURKEY

The Risk of Consumption vegetable oils and margarines

10.05-10.30 Dr. Rachid Fetouaki, Chemist and Biologist, Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Unit of Halal Control GERMANY

Oil processing,chemistry and potential harmful effect of trans fat consumption

10:30-10:55: Doc.Dr.Serkan Çakr, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Mudurnu Süreyya Astarci vocational highschool, Head of architecture, TURKEY

Effect of Vegetable oils and margarines on Human Health

10:55- 11:15 Questions and Answers

11:15 -12:15 Halal and healthy products exhibition visit

12:15 -14:00 Lunch and Friday Prayer

14:00 – 16:50 5^thSession

TOPIC:In search of True Halal- Is it possible to have it worldwide?

Moderator;Prof. Dr. Hamdi Döndüren, Uludai University Faculty of Theology TURKEY

14.00-14.25 M.S. Navlakhi, President of South African National Halaal Authority,

South Africa

Gelatin

14.25-14.50 Abdullah Kurt, Food Engineer, M.Sc., Researcher at 19 May University, TURKEY

Studies on Gelatin Production, functions and alternatives

14.50-15.15 Dr. Hüseyin Büyüközer, GIMDES President, TURKEY

Halal, Tayyib and Kafalat

15.15-15.40 Dr. Bayram Yalçin, Sabahattin Zaim University, Faculty of Food Engineering, TURKEY

BPA in Food Packaging

15.40-16.05 Lokman Ab Rahman, JAKIM, MALAYSIA

Halal Assurance Practices and “0” defect in Halal production

16.05-16.30 Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakçi, ISNA Council Member, USA

Ubudiyyah in Halal Consumption

16.30 – 16.50 Questions and Answers

16.50 – 17.15 Tea Break

Final Declaration and Closing Ceremonies

Turkey: Turkish companies’ eye on $1 trillion halal food market

salama — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:35:32 +0000

Turkish food companies have shown strong interest in getting a higher share of the world halal food market, whose value is estimated at $2 trillion per annum, as the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) received more than 20 applications from food companies to get a “halal certificate,” proof that their meat is cut in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The importance of halal products has been growing in recent years, and halal products are in high demand worldwide. Turkey lacked a certification system until only recently as the Food Auditing and Certification Research Association (G?MDES) became the first body to issue halal certificates in Turkey. The TSE announced in June that it would start issuing halal certificates this fall. According to the TSE, interest from Turkish food companies, mainly meat producers, is high as more than 20 applications for a halal certificate from the TSE came in last month. A TSE official who wished to remain anonymous told Today’s Zaman on Thursday that they have listed the companies according to their application date and started to visit and control the meat production facilities with a professional team to check whether the preparation procedures of foods are in compliance with halal standards. In addition, halal standards apply to the packaging, labeling, transportation and logistics of products. Moreover, the official also said the institution has sent letters to red and white meat producers, stating that halal certificates will be necessary to export to Iraq and that Turkish food companies should be sensitive to this issue as a multi-billion market could be lost without the certificate.

Turkey: Certified Halal Food Sector’s 2nd Meeting in Turkey

salama — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:16:06 +0000

2^nd Halal and Healthy Products Fair, its only example in Turkey, will be held at the CNR Expo ?stanbul on 13-16 October 2011. The organization will be held with the support of Sine International Fairs, an affiliate of the CNR Expo Fair, G?MDES (Association for the inspection and certification of food and supplies ) and WHC (World Halal Council). Many purchasing groups from USA, Europe, Far East and Middle East will draw the attention to the organization and draw the route of the sector from Istanbul.

With its population over 70 million, Turkey offers an attractive industry with its growing market opportunities. Regulations enacted in line with efforts of compliance with EU laws provide advantages for investors in areas such as health, food and textile. Turkey’s geographical proximity to the target markets such as the Middle East, Gulf countries and Turkic republics makes the Halal and Healthy Products Fair, which is unique among its kind in the industry, even more important. The Fair will help foreign investors to directly contact purchasers in Turkey and in target markets.

4^th International Halal and Nutricious Food Conference
The 4^th International Halal and Nutricious Food Conference will also be held simultaneously by G?MDES with a topic of “Importance of a global single standard for increasing Halal food trade”. Topics such as global halal applications, halal certification programs, an opportunity for islamic certificate institutions to find a common standard, methots of benefiting from these programs in the global and local markets and producer-consumer approaches to the Halal concept will be discussed during the conference. State representatives, consumer organizations, food industry professionals and academicians along with NGO representatves will gather during the conference.

Turkey is the most viable candidate for leading the halal products market
Halal industry is expanding swiftly all around the globe, reaching 2 billion people in a world with 7 billion population and Turkey’s role in the indutry is growing. Turkey’s location which sits at a position where it can manage the intercontinental trade has been acknowledged not only by the Islamic world but also by the USA, Europe, Middle East, Far East and Russia. Bearing that in mind, purchasing groups from more than 30 countries such as; Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Finland, Canada, Philippines, Brazil, Belgium, United Kingdom and France are expected to visit the fair.

Global Market of Halal Certified Products…
Halal food produced permissible according to Islamic conditions should also meet the health conditions. Malaysia and Indonasia are the leaders in certified halal products. Australia, New Zealand and Brazil are major players in halal meat.

Certified halal trade has a 15% share
Certified halal products have a 15% share in global halal food market. The market share is expected to increase annually by 5-10% in next 5 years.

Turkey: Arabs fuel tourism boom for Turkey

salama — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:17:04 +0000

Constanze Letsch in Istanbul, guardian.co.uk,

The Arab spring is fuelling a Turkish summer as Saudis, Kuwaitis and other tourists from the Gulf states who would have previously spent summers in Syria or Egypt look further north.

Figures from the Turkish ministry of culture and tourism show bookings from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are up by 75% and, with the beginning of Ramadan days away, hotels in Istanbul and the northwestern city of Bursa are fully booked.

Turkey’s new wave of Arab visitors in part attribute their presence in the country down to the instability in their usual summer holiday destinations.

“We come here now because there is so much trouble in other Arab countries,” said Muhammad al-Menhali from Abu Dhabi, who was in Turkey for the first time with his wife Imad and baby son. “We usually go to Egypt, but we feel safer in Turkey.”

In the Grand Bazaar in the historical Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, shopkeepers said they had noticed a significant increase in Arab tourists over the last year. “I like Turkey so much. The country feels familiar; I don’t feel like a stranger,” said Housiya al-Hamadi, strolling with six members of her family past market stalls offering hand-painted porcelain, silk scarves and touristic knick-knacks. Her only complaint was that few Turks speak English or Arabic. “We often have to communicate with hands and feet,” she laughed.

Approximately 1 million Arabs live in Turkey, and their language skills are now highly sought after. With Turkey having long steered away from its Arab neighbours and imperial Ottoman past, learning Arabic was considered backwards, necessary only for religious scholars. Now private language schools in Istanbul increasingly offer Arabic courses, and shops advertise sales positions for Arabic speakers.

Besides Istanbul, Arab tourists prefer the lush Black Sea coast, with Uzungöl and Trabzon topping the list. The sun and sea packages that draw British and German tourists to Antalya or Fethiye every year hold little attraction for tourists from the Middle East, according to Turkish travel agencies catering to Arab clients. “The Black Sea coast is green, and not as hot in the summer as their home countries,” said Abdülkadir Düger, general manager of Alharran Tours.

Simultaneously western European countries have become less appealing. “After 11 September, visa requirements became much stricter, visas for the UK and other European countries are now very hard to get for us,” said Oussama Salaha, a Jordanian who is now living in Saudi Arabia. “Turkey is a Muslim country, we don’t need to worry about halal food, the culture is close to our own. Veiled women don’t face any issues in Turkey. Saudi tourists don’t go to France any more since the French government banned the face veil.”

Düger suggested changes in Turkey’s foreign policy and its rapprochement with Arab countries had played a crucial role in its growing popularity with Arab tourists.

Over the past couple of years, the Turkish government has lifted visa requirements for Arab countries such as Syria, Qatar, Lebanon, Yemen and Jordan.

“Arabs are welcome guests in Turkey,” said Düger. “We will probably soon need more hotels to accommodate them all.”

Turkey: Turkey to issue “Halal” certificates as of Fall 2011

salama — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:23:13 +0000

Chairman of the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), Hulusi Senturk, said Thursday that a list of standards for “halal food” was accepted by 33 Islamic countries in a meeting that took place in Cameroon on May 16 and 17.

“Halal” is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” or “permissible”, and the term not only covers food and drink, but also to all matters of daily life. When it comes to halal food, most people think of meat foods only. However, Muslims must ensure that all foods, particularly processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and non-food items like cosmetics, are also halal. Frequently, these products contain animal by-products or other ingredients that are not permissible for Muslims to eat or use on their bodies.

Speaking to reporters, Senturk said that the TSE began a process whereby Turkish food standards would be identical to the “halal food” standards of the Islamic countries.

As of fall 2011, we will begin issuing “halal” certificates in Turkey, Senturk said.

The “halal food” market is worth around 930 billion USD per year. We have to make sure that Turkish entrepreneurs can compete in this market by complying with “halal food” standards, Senturk said.

There are around 1.8 billion Muslims across the globe.

“What is Halal?”

The word “halal” refers to an object or action that is permissible according to Sharia. Halal meat is slaughtered according to the method of animal slaughter prescribed by Sharia.

This method involves:

-Slaughtering with a swift, deep cut using a sharp knife on the neck,

-Cutting the jugular veins but leaving the spinal cord intact,

-The premises, machinery, and equipment is cleansed according to Sharia before any production takes place,

-The animals are permitted for consumption,

-The animal is of the permitted age, raised on halal feed ingredients,

-Slaughtering is done by a Muslim and facing the Qibla or direction of the Ka’aba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia,

-Reciting the takbeer: the words “Allahu Akbar”,

-Pre-stunning an animal is prohibited,

-After slaughtering, the body is hung upside down to drain the blood.