Ms Yingluck tastes dried fruit after attending the opening of Thaifex — World of Food Asia 2012 at Impact Muang Thong Thani yesterday. The fair runs until Sunday. THITI WANNAMONTHA

She said yesterday that the demand for food products in international markets has continuously increased since the beginning of this year and this consumption will help to push up growth in almost all categories.

This year’s revenue from food exports excluding major commodities such as rice and sugar is estimated at US$28 billion, up by 12% from last year.

“This is a very promising sign for both the production and export sectors. Now is the time for them to make the most of this business opportunity,” she said at the opening of Thaifex _ World of Food Asia 2012.

Organisers expect the five-day event ending on Sunday will fetch US$420 million.

Ms Yingluck said the Thai government has a standing policy of positioning Thailand as the Kitchen of the World.

Thai agricultural and food products are highlighted, while foreign investment in the local farm sector is promoted vigorously.

“This initiative creates added value for not only our agricultural sector, but also the industrial and service sectors,” she said.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the euro-zone crisis is a major concern.

His ministry will discuss the issue with Kittiratt Na-Ranong, a deputy prime minister and finance minister, in order to minimise the impact against Thailand, he said.

Mr Boonsong said the EU’s economic woes will likely affect Thai shipments and prompting the Commerce Ministry to adjust export strategies.

A greater focus on Asean markets is possible in order to ensure this year’s growth target of 15%.

Phongsak Assakul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said he supports the govenment’s policy of standardising the quality of Thai food sold abroad.

Promoting food ingredient exports is an effective way of beefing up taste, he said.

Mr Phongsak said he also encourages the government and food processors to concentrate more on making halal food in order to tap into Asean’s Muslim consumers, which number more than 250 million.

In fact, the overall Asean population of 601 million is a good alternative to ailing Europe as well, he added.

Related posts:

1. Halal receives export focus in Thailand The Thai government aims to expand halal food exports by...
2. Thailand: Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2011 THAIFEX – World of Food ASIA 2011, which includes Thai...
3. Thailand:THAI operates certified Halal Food kitchen Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has received authorization...
4. Thailand signs Halal export deals In an aggressive move to increase Halal exports, Thailand’s Commerce...
5. Thailand urged to cash in on halal products at MIHAS Thailand is well placed to become a springboard for exports...

Cambodia would invite experts from Muslim-major-ity countries in the region to teach local Muslims, known as ‘Cham’, how to process food according to Islamic doctrine, Mao Thora, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said yesterday.

“The institution, or centre, for Islamic food would be a state-run facility with recognised Halal food standards”, he said.

Although many of the nation’s Cham consider themselves Muslim, awareness of the rules governing Halal eating habits was low, some members of the Muslim community said yesterday.

“If we don’t how to do it, then we are not Muslims. So we want to know how to do it,” Othsman Hassan, a local Muslim and president of the Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation, said.

“If we want to know how to make halal food, we have to seek help from Islamic people. And we need this help without spending too much money.”

One of the first steps for establishing a centre would be installing a laboratory for food testing, Othsman Hassan said.

Identifying hygiene techniques customarily used in Muslim cooking would be another part of the process, he said.

Muslims cannot eat food that contains pork or blood.

Cows that had been electrocuted could also not be consumed, Othsman Hassan noted.

Leaders of Cambodia’s Cham population have said their community is poor and often feels marginalised.

Sourced:Phnom Penh Post

Related posts:

1. Cambodian Govt in Process of Setting up a Halal Certification Body Cambodia's government could set up a body to certify halal...
2. Move Halal Values Forward HALAL values can be key to the recovery of the...
3. Pakistan: Conference on Emerging Issues for Halal food in Food Safety The need to develop a comprehensive mechanism to remove the...
4. Malaysia: Sozo to set up halal food processing plant in Penang Sozo is banking on tapping Malaysia's halal food stature in...
5. Move to Develop Halal Market in Bangladesh A Halal Malaysia Week 2008 will be organised in Dhaka...

Halal industry, as an asset class, is looking for compliant liquidity. Islamic finance, as a movement connected to the real economy, is looking for impactful intra-OIC (compliant) investment and financing opportunities.

The convergence is happening in real time, and one of the “leaders” in the reunification is a strong-willed pioneering woman, Jumaatun (Juju) Azmi, founder and managing director of KasheDia.

Question: Please explain the link between KasheDia, International Halal Alliance (IHI) and World Halal Forum (WHF).

Jumaatun: KasehDia is a private company formed by myself back in 1999 to offer contemporary communication solutions for Islamic concepts. One of our products is the World Halal Forum (WHF) whose inaugural event was in 2006. It was in that same year that the IHI was formed following a resolution passed by the delegates. As of 2011, the ownership of WHF has been transferred to IHI, so that it maintains a non-profit non-governmental organisation status.

Question: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has spoken about a halal economy, how is your group leading the efforts?

Jumaatun: KasehDia, in leveraging our in-depth knowledge of the global halal industry, was able to assist the government of Malaysia in formulating the chapter on halal industry in the Third Industrial Master Plan. In addition to promoting the halal products sector, the WHF has always sought to widen the realm of halal to include services and the ancillary industries, such as training, laboratory testing and logistics. A key component in a halal economy is Islamic finance and we started the convergence conversation and integration actions of halal products and services sector few years ago.

Question: In Islamic finance, there are international industry bodies, like AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions), IFSB (Islamic Financial Services Board), etc, halal industry does yet have one, what is your organisation doing?

Jumaatun: The WHF gave birth to the IHI Alliance, which is envisioned to be the global authority to fill the gap. Through its strategic partnership, IHI Alliance has already obtained a mandate from the OIC to develop a global comprehensive programme for the halal sector, which includes harmonising standards and certification practices. It is working closely with all stakeholders, especially the relevant importing authorities and industry players.

Question: What are the hot button issues in halal industry today?

Jumaatun: The recurring theme is need for standardisation in a fragmented market, much like in Islamic finance. Some of the issues include stunning, mechanical slaughter and use of animal-based gelatin. There are also the debates between activist groups, acting in the name of animal welfare, pitted against halal (and kosher) over the notion of what is known as “religious slaughter.” This essentially means slaughter without the prior use of a device or method to render the animal unconscious. This has become a hot issue in Europe and spilled over into the political area in Holland, France, etc.

Question: How has the WHF evolved since its inception event in 2006?

Jumaatun: During the early days of WHF, we managed to bring the concept of halal from the purely religious realm to the talk of industry, multinational corporations and seemingly unrelated sector players. We framed it in a different context and introduced new ideas and service sectors that are very much part of the whole halal ecosystem. We moved towards addressing the immediate issue of standardisation!

However, we soon became less idealistic and more realistic as the Ummah is a globally diverse community. We realised that a single standard cannot be imposed on 1.6 billion Muslims everywhere. Hence, we refined our approach to be more practical. Simply put, to establish a robust system where the halal certification industry adheres to internationally accepted standards of professionalism and transparency. This has been the task of IHI Alliance.

Question: The WHF 2012 just ended, what were the highlights of the event?

Jumaatun: In line with evolving themes, from perception of a business forum, WHF 2012 was focused more on the important stakeholder: the consumer. This year, we introduced creativity in the form of literary arts, visual arts, entertainment and media. We wanted to show a softer side of Islam that is inspiring, innovative and beautiful with universal appeal to both Muslims and non-Muslims. The topic of social justice was discussed in the light of the current financial impacting the “have nots”. It was encouraging to see solutions lie with Islamic instruments, such as zakat, waqf, gold dinar and so on.

Question: Why is there more emphasis on halal in Malaysia than in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries?

Jumaatun: Malaysia is very much a pluralistic society with a 60 per cent Muslim population and the Muslim community is conscious of the non-halal products in the food supply chain.

The era of industrialisation in Malaysia, 1980s and 1990s, had the effect of creating a Malay middle class with increased purchasing power. Therefore, businesses in the food and hospitality services sectors were compelled by market forces to provide a halal offering. The momentum of this development has been continuing from the tabling of a trade description act on halal in 1972 to the introduction of halal certification in 1994 to the first integrated halal conference and expo in 2006.

In the GCC and other Muslim countries, where more than 90 per cent of the population is Muslims, halal is taken for granted. The seeds of awareness have barely been planted in these countries. Today, 54 out of the 57 member states of the OIC have no form of legislation to regulate halal. Hence, they need to catch up with Malaysia and we are doing our part in assisting.

Question: Why do you think there is minimal Islamic financing in the halal industry?

Jumaatun: The halal industry was previously not identified as an asset class. Islamic finance providers would more likely view the firms’ underlying industry sector, e.g. food, agriculture, personal care, logistics etc as the determining profile. Conversely, those companies already involved in the halal sector are not compelled to adopt Islamic finance. Around 80 per cent of companies producing halal products are controlled by non-Muslims. There is no religious impetus. Even in Malaysia, which has one of the most mature Islamic finance industries, the penetration rate is less than 40 per cent. Conventional financing is well established and halal producing firms tend to be averse to switching unless there are substantial economic or monetary benefits.

Question: At the WHF 2011, the world’s first halal food index, SAMI Halal Food Index, was launched and witnessed by the former prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Is it a beginning of convergence between halal industry and Islamic finance?

Jumaatun: The launch had an impact for both the halal industry and Islamic finance. We had always been talking about the convergence theory, but this was the first time that it materialised into something tangible – an index. WHF and others had been promoting the halal sector as a growth sector, even catching the attention of mainstream media including Forbes, Time and the Economist magazines. The tracking of the SAMI index’s stellar performance quantified and empirically proved what we had been saying all along.

Question: The SAMI index is about inward and intra-OIC investments as the companies are only from Muslim countries. How can Malaysia Inc lead halal as an asset class, like it has in Islamic finance?

Jumaatun: For starters, Malaysia can claim a fair amount of credibility as leader because Malaysian-listed companies constitute almost half the total market capitalisation of the SAMI index. Malaysia offers probably the most comprehensive range of Islamic financial products. When coupled with the slew of incentives that are further reinforced in the Second Capital Markets Masterplan, the “conversion” of the balance sheets, visa sukuk, of halal industry players to become syariah-compliant is facilitated. Malaysia already leads in Islamic finance as well as thought leadership in the halal sector, so naturally it can lead in propagating halal as an investment asset class.

Question: Finally, what have been your major accomplishments and what are the remaining major challenges for you?

Jumaatun: There is still so much to be done, but we have made some impact through our efforts. Through our various communication channels including guidebooks, magazines, TV shows, awards and events, we have managed to draw the world’s attention to halal as an industry.

The figure of US$580 billion (estimated annual value of the halal food sector in 2005) was first introduced at WHF 2006, and quoted in articles in mainstream media was a solid beginning. My favourite was seeing halal on the cover of Time magazine. It would be rather presumptuous for us to claim credit for all worldwide milestones, but the WHF was the catalyst for a series of events and achievements. For example, halal themed conferences and exhibitions have become global, from Brussels to Bangkok. Halal meat exporters from Australia and New Zealand have enacted new regulations to improve the integrity of their halal production. Greenfield countries fast-tracked to set up halal certification bodies to address demand from importing Muslim majority countries.

At the same time, IHI Alliance has worked tirelessly trying to bring some orders to the global industry. Eight modules of the ICCI-IHI Alliance halal standard have been published – each one providing sector specific requirements for every part of the halal supply chain. IHI’s membership now includes over 50 halal certification bodies in 36 countries covering six continents. The halal lead auditors training course, which has been rolled out over the last two years, seeks to harmonise halal certification practices.

Yet, there is so much more that needs to be achieved. We already talked about 45 out of the 57 OIC countries are still without a halal standards. In Europe, more than 20 million Muslim consumers have no legal recourse to ensure the integrity of their dietary requirements in the absence of even a basic labelling law. The general level of auditing and certification processes have yet to conform to internationally accepted norms.

We did not expect to be able to solve all the key issues in seven years and we cannot do it alone. For our efforts to be effective, we need the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the relevant importing authorities.

Rushdi Siddiqui is Thomson Reuters’ Global Head of Islamic Finance based in New York.

Read more: When ‘separated twins’ reunite http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/KASEH/Article/#ixzz1vbQrSc1q

Related posts:

1. Opinion: Reuniting the ‘twins separated at birth’ The halal industry has failed to convey its business...
2. Opinion: Islamic finance, Halal industry and the media Latest thoughts from Rushdi Siddiqui, thought leader and Global Head...
3. Opinion: Right track, wrong train? THE year 2010 was a year of "headwinds" for Islamic...
4. Opinion: Giving credit where it is due As a follow-up to the Unsung Stars of Islamic Finance...
5. Opinion: The West has much to learn from Islamic finance Given they are barred from charging interest and must abide...

Homegrown brands like CavinKare, Daawat, Bikano, Goldwinner oil, Vadilal ice cream,Amrutanjan Health Care and Gujarat Ambuja Exports are embracing halal-certification to get a better foothold in markets like Singapore, Malaysia and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries.

CavinKare has got a halal certification from Halal India, an apex body for halal certification , for three of its products – Fairever, Nyle herbal shampoo and Ruchi pickle – to expand its footprint in Singapore, Malaysia and GCC. “The certification is a reason-to-belief for customers on quality parameters. The certification will also give an edge over our competitors,” said R S Vijay Kumar, GM of international business at Cavin-Kare , a Chennai-based personal care company.

Nyle shampoo, for instance, cornered a 26.7% share in the Singapore halal-compliant market and 22% in Malaysia for the same segment last fiscal, he added. The Rs 1,100-crore company expects its international business to touch the Rs 100-crore mark in the current fiscal from Rs 70 crore earlier.

Bikano, the sweet and the namkeen brand from Bikanervala Foods, has seen a 30% jump in soan papdi and cookies sales in Malaysian market in the last one year, partly due to the halalcertification that gave a higher visibility on retail shelves there. “Halal signifies highest standards of quality and hygiene in ingredients, processes and products,” said Sachin Anand, head (international business), Bikanervala Foods.

Amrutanjan has obtained a halal certificate for all its pain balm products exported to Singapore , Malaysia, West Indies and a few African markets. “Islam in many ways is a way of life. To that extent, Islamic branding is all about using brands as good deeds. What starts with halal foods, can move on to halal practice in every industry, be it the pharmaceutical or the cosmetic industry . Islamic branding can embrace broader pastures that cover business practices too,” said Harish Bijoor, CEO of Harish Bijoor Consults.

“With many brands embracing halal, Indian brands may look at an export market opportunity of about $200 billion in the next ten years,” said Mohamed Jinna, CEO of Halal India. The halal stamp can be extended to those brands tuned into the principles of Shariah in faith, good practice and spirit . Globally, the halal market is worth a staggering $2.1 trillion a year, says a report by brand consultancy firm Ogilvy Noor.

The market opportunity for halal products is still untapped in India, but brand consultants are not dismissing its potential in a country with 160 million Muslims. Paul Temporal, founder and MD of Temporal Brand Consulting, feels that there is a lot more room for brand managers to adapt these values for different markets and cultures, whether Islamic or not.

“If you look at Islamic values , most of them are emotional and this makes for good branding and marketing. A more careful look reveals that a lot of these values do not just suit Islamic audiences, but are of a universally appealing nature . The issue or challenge is to find where these people are and to reach them with suitable products,” he added.

Related posts:

1. India: Intertek responds to Indian Halal demand India has more than 175 million Muslim people but still...
2. Opinion: Brands That Survive Will Be The Brands That Make Life Better A new study of consumer engagement finds that companies that...
3. Opinion: Building halal brands The race is on to establish powerful international ‘halal brands’....
4. Pakistan: Pak food brands set to make UAE foray Leading Pakistan brands in frozen meat, edible oil and herbal...
5. Kipp’s healthcheck on Arab brands’ global ambition Though there is no mention of Halal product brands in...

“They see this opportunity and want their companies to set up base here.

“Their chamber of commerce will identify 30 large companies which Malaysian companies can forge ties with,” he said.

Husni was recently on a two-day working visit to the republic, beginning May 14, which was part of the Member Country Partnership Strategy programme initiated between Malaysia and the Islamic Development Bank.

Under the programme, Tunisia and Malaysia exchange expertise and experience in the financial sector and Islamic banking.

“Tunisia is relevant to Islamic banking. There are five countries under the programme namely Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Algeria.

“There is market of 90 million people and they find the halal industry relevant to them. These countries are a ready platform for us to export our halal products to Europe,” he said.

On another development, Husni said Malaysia was finalising an offer to cooperate, via Bank Negara Malaysia, to provide Islamic banking services in Europe which has a Muslim population of about 22 million people. — Bernama

Related posts:

1. Malaysia Shows Interest in Developing Tunisia’s Halal Industry The Malaysian Minister of Finance stated that his country is...
2. CIMB Islamic To Invest RM1.5 Billion In Halal Industry Players Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd is prepared to invest...
3. Kyrgyzstan Keen To Learn Malaysia’s Model Of Islamic Economy The Kyrgyzstan government plans to introduce takaful (Islamic insurance), Islamic...
4. Pakistan: Iran keen to invest in Halal products A business council will be formed between the businessmen communities...
5. Turkey’s Asya Bank Seeks Malaysia’s Cooperation In Islamic Finance One of Turkey's biggest financial institutions, the Asya Bank, has...

On Tuesday, the Malaysian Second Minister of Finance Ahmad Husni Mohamed Hanadzlah met with Riadh Bettaib, Tunisia’s Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, to discuss the prospective collaboration between Malaysia and Tunisia in Halal industries.

“Tunisia can be a platform for the development and export of Halal industries for the Muslim community in Europe and Africa,” said Hanadzlah during a press conference attended by the two ministers in Tunis.

According to TAP, Malaysia’s exports in the Halal industries’ sector are valued at an estimated  $11 billon, and the rate of exchange in these industries worldwide generates over $2.3 trillion dollars annually. The Halal industries’ sector refers to the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals that abide by Islamic Law.

The Malaysian Minister of Finance stated that his country is willing to host over 30 Tunisian Halal companies in order for them gain experience from the well-established Malaysian Halal industry. He stressed the lucrative potential of developing this sector, given the high demand of Malaysian Halal industry products in countries with large Muslim communities.

Prospects of bilateral cooperation in the Islamic finance sector were also touched upon during the conference, and Hanadzlah stressed that Malaysia’s expertise in this field will be at Tunisia’s disposal.

Islamic Finance was first established in Malaysia in 1983. Since then, Islamic financial transactions total to $31 billion, accounting for 23% of Malaysia’s financial services sector.

Currenty, no Malaysian businesses are based in Tunisia. The only form of trade conducted between the two countries consists of the exportation of Tunisian dates and the importation of Malaysian natural oils.

Related posts:

1. Requirements for developing RP’s halal industry identified Creation of a national brand for halal products and formation...
2. Malaysia: Innovation And Premium Halal Products Key To Becoming Halal Industry Hub Halal Industry Development Corp's managing director cum chief executive officer,...
3. Malaysia: Malaysia A Global Resource Centre For Halal Industry – PM Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said compared with...
4. Najib’s Visit to Kazakhstan Strengthens Ties, Renews Interest On Malaysia During a joint press conference yesterday, President Nazarbayev was full...
5. Turkey: Developing-8 to have a stronger voice in upcoming 5 years Sunday’s Zaman met with D-8 Secretary-General Widi Pratikto to discuss...

KUALA LUMPUR: The Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) is in discussion with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to set up a Halal investment fund.

Related posts:

1. Malaysia: OSK-UOB Islamic Fund Management launches Global Food Islamic Equity Fund The fund, which will tap into the massive potential...
2. Malaysia: HDC expects slowdown in Halal investment Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC) expects to attract RM1 billion...
3. HDC In Talks With Commercial Banks KUALA LUMPUR - The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) is...
4. Qatar, Philippines set up joint fund The proposed Philippines-Qatar Joint Investment Fund includes projects in agriculture,...
5. Malaysia: RM10m training fund for Muslims The Selangor government today announced that it was allocating RM10...

Dr. K. Ravindranath, Chairman & MD, Global Hospitals Group, said “With about two billion Muslims worldwide and a major number of international health travellers coming to Global Healthcity from the Islamic nations, we see Halal certification as a form of approval that boosts our patients’ trust and confidence in our range of hospital services. To earn the certification, Global Health City had to meet strict Islamic guidelines dealing with hygiene & dietary regulations of global standards.”

“This Halal certification will further help in boosting medical value travel in our country and showcasing our world class infrastructure.” He further added.

Mr. Mohamed Jinna, CEO, Halal India stated “We have great heritage for service and hospitality in India which also signifies that we can take good care of patients. The state of art technologies available in medical care is just perfect for overseas patients.  All we need to do is understand their culture and custom so that we accommodate them well and make them feel truly at home”  This way we can respect their values and belief and at the same time cater to this niche market in India.”

Global Health City is one of the few hospitals in the world to have Halal certification. Halal, an Arabic word meaning “lawful or permitted”, is the certification given by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia. The concept of Halal, is not just being applied to food, but it includes services and infrastructure as per rules in Quran. Global Health City provides special desk for such patients which includes patient managers and co-ordinators who are caring and  knowledgeable about the language, culture and expectations of the patient from the Islamic world. The hospital provides prayer room with Friday prayers, customized cuisine & Arabic TV channels in the rooms.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Chandra Sekhar, Executive Director, Global Hospital Group said “As with the concept of Halal Friendly Medical Tourism it’s a proven set of services which helps hospital attract more and more patients from SAARC & S.E Asia region as well as from various other countries. The biggest example of countries which has already implemented this concept is Thailand, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, UK and Malaysia.”

GLOBAL HEALTH CITY

Global Health City, Chennai is a 500 bedded super specialty tertiary care facility, with a capacity to expand to 1000 beds. It renders 360 degree advanced tertiary healthcare services with multi-super speciality and multi-organ transplant services. With the finest combination of expertise, experience, state-of-the art technology and well coordinated team work, every step is aimed at ensuring excellence in patient care.

The Global Hospitals Group started with its first Hospital a decade ago in Hyderabad. Today, it has nine hospitals with over 2000 beds, strategically spread across the country with branches now in Bangalore and Chennai and many more in advanced stages of planning and implementation, one such being the Mumbai facility which is proposed to be operational by the end of the current financial year. Each unit is a world class tertiary care multi super specialty Hospital with facilities matching the best in the world and offering advanced patient care of international standards.

Halal India

Halal India (HI) is as an Independent Certification body which is recognized by the Government of India. Halal India is one of the established Halal Certification body in India. Halal India Certification is becoming more relevant in today’s market mainly because people are more aware of the Halal concept it is not just about religious related matters but it extends to the products or services being deemed safe for consumption as well as have health benefits.

Halal India is recognized by IHIA (International Halal Integrity Alliance, Malaysia) who is a partner of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). It has been recognized by the 57 OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) Countries, in principle member with the World Halal Council and Intertek Testing Services, a testing company, are its global partners.

Hospitals eye ‘halal’ certification to attract patients from Middle East

Pushpa Narayan, Times of India

CHENNAI: There are two things that worry almost every patient from Islamic countries who come to Indian hospitals: the meat they eat and the direction of Mecca. With more than 75% of the medical tourists being from the Middle East, hospitals are eyeing ‘halal’ certification to make them feel at home.

On Monday, Chennai-based Global Health Citysaid it has became the first in the country to receive the ‘halal’ certification from the Halal Development Authority. The certification would mean they get ‘halal’ meat in food and have ‘quiblah’ (the direction of Mecca) signs in every room and prayer hall. Muslims offer prayers facing ‘quiblah.’

At least five leading hospital groups in the country including Apollo Hospitals and Fortis are in talks with the authority, said Halal India general manager Mohamed Noman Lateef. In Chennai, Mehta Hospitals and Lifeline Hospitals have also sent applications for the certification.

Halal India, is an independent Halal Certification body which is recognised by the Indian government and deals with certification of food, cosmetics and drugs as per the Shariah law. Halal is anything that is legal or lawful for Muslims. In terms of meat, halal applies to the kind of meat (pork is banned), their health condition and the way they are killed. The butcher must make a recitation to God and cut the jugular vein, carotid artery and the windpipe with a sharp knife. The animal can’t be stunned before it is killed.

To ensure the meat used in the Global hospital’s kitchen is ‘halal,’ officials from Halal India visited the slaughter house from where the meat is purchased. “It’s not just about food or prayer hall, it’s about lifestyle. For any Muslim it is important that any business performed in their daily lives is clean, hygienic and not detrimental to either their health or wellbeing as specified in the religious text. In that sense, it is a new benchmark for quality,” said Halal India business development manager Sheetal Bajaj.

Hospital chairman Dr K Ravindranath said Halal certification was a form of approval that boosts patients’ confidence. “To earn the certification, Global Health City had to meet strict Islamic guidelines dealing with hygiene and dietary regulations of global standards.” The hospital’s international business vice-president M Zakariah Ahmed said after Joint Commission International (JCI) this would be one of the biggest certification process hospitals in the country are aiming for.

Every room will also have a sticker that gives the exact direction of Mecca. “I tell every patient the food is halal. But I feel they would be happy to see the certification,” said Global Hospital’s international patients executive Vireesh Singh. “We tell them that we make public announcements for prayer and ensure that we give women a separate place during prayer,” he said.

Transplant surgeon Dr Madhu Shankar agrees. “People from the Middle East have a different culture. We don’t enter the female patient’s room without their permission. A female nurse will walk in first and seek permission for a male doctor’s entry,” he said.

Related posts:

1. India: Intertek forays into Halal Certification in India Intertek, global leader in quality and safety solutions serving a...
2. Singapore: Crescentrating.com and Halal India announces partnership Singapore based Crescentrating.com, which provides “Halal Friendly” rating for travel...
3. Halal India signs MoU with Halal Nepal Mr Jinna, CEO, Halal India, stated that this MoU will...
4. India: Intertek responds to Indian Halal demand India has more than 175 million Muslim people but still...
5. Restaurant chef Matt Prentice embarks on a quest to reinvent hospital food There is an expression 'you are what you eat' but...

Nestlé Malaysia, producer of the company’s biggest range of halal products, is celebrating its centenary.

Nestlé consumers worldwide have been able to buy halal versions of the company’s well-known brands such as Milo, Nescafé, Maggi, Kit Kat andNespray since the 1980s.

Today Nestlé Malaysia produces about 300 halal products in its food and beverage range which are exported to more than 50 countries worldwide.

Halal certified products are sourced, manufactured, imported and distributed in accordance with Islamic law to meet the needs of Muslim consumers.
Hub of expertise

Malaysia was Nestlé’s first market to apply for halal certification for all its food products. This followed the Malaysian government’s introduction of voluntary halal certification in 1994.

Nestlé Malaysia is now the company’s global Halal Centre of Excellence.

This means it offers policy guidelines, know-how and expertise on halal to other Nestlé markets.

Nestlé Malaysia’s Halal Policy outlines information on ingredients, sourcing, production, packaging and transportation of Nestlé halal products.

A Halal Committee which includes senior executives from various areas in the company was established in the 1980s. It has become part of the policy to ensure it addresses matters in relation to halal certification.

Centenary celebrations

Paul Bulcke, Nestlé’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the importance of Nestlé Malaysia at a recent event to mark the company’s 100th anniversary.

“Nestlé Malaysia plays an important role to the Nestlé Group,” he said.

“Not only because of the country’s unique location at the heart of the region which allows our business easier access to the South East Asian market.

“But also because of its strategic role as the biggest halal producer and the Halal Centre of Excellence in the Nestlé world,” Mr Bulcke added.

A number of other activities throughout the year will be led by Nestlé Malaysia to mark its centenary.
Nourishing generations

Nestlé started its operations in 1912 as the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company in the Malaysian state of Penang.

It set up its first factory 50 years later in Petaling Jaya, near to the capital of Kuala Lumpur, producing sweetened condensed milk, the beverage brand Milo, and tomato and chilli sauces.

The company now employs more than 5,700 employees in Malaysia. It operates seven factories, all of which are halal certified.

“What began as a small organisation 100 years ago is now a very successful business,” said Mr Bulcke.

“Over time the company has become a natural part of society, nourishing generations of Malaysian families.”
Halal worldwide

Other leading Nestlé markets which produce halal products include Indonesia and the Middle East.

In Europe, Nestlé’s halal products are manufactured mainly in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Nestlé halal products are also produced in the United States.

A halal inspection authority, such as the Halal Food Council of Europe, inspects the company’s factories with a Nestlé Halal Committee member to ensure products comply with Islamic law before halal certification is awarded.

A total of 85 out of Nestlé’s 456 factories worldwide are halal certified.

Related posts:

1. UK: Asda celebrates 10 years with £1bn sales of local food On the day that Asda celebrates its 10th year working...
2. Halal venture is tasty for food giant Nestlé as it cashes in on surging demand Food giant Nestlé has gone halal in 75 of its...
3. Malaysia: Eleven 1MDS To Be Established In Iran Within Next Five Years – HDC Eleven 1Malaysia Departmental Store will be established in Iran within...
4. UAE: Jafza-Malaysia Trade records yearly growth of 29% in the last ten years Jafza plan to set-up an incubation centre in the free...
5. Malaysia: Malaysia will double EU trade in ten years – trade minister After the failure to reach a EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement...

DUBAI: Bangkok is moving in the direction of having its world-renowned spa establishments and treatments, “conform to halal regulations,” in a move to lure more tourists from the Middle East.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)-International Marketing deputy governor and in-charge of the European, African, Middle East and American markets Juthaporn Rerngronasa, during her recent visit to Dubai, said this is one of the novel ideas the government is undertaking.

“We are developing the Thai spa to conform to halal regulations, with the organic products and the men and women having their own private rooms,” she said.

In an interview with The Gulf Today, Rerngronasa said a few thousand of the spas in her country already have their unique herbal treatments in halal form.

She repeated that similar to the genuine Thai spa boutiques in the UAE, primarily in Dubai, these already have separate rooms for men and women with male masseurs attending to the former and  masseuses attending to the latter.

“All they have to do is check on the list which spas are already offering halal services,” Rerngronasa said.

“The Middle East is a very potential market for us,” Rerngronasa also said.

TAT regional office figures showed that for 2011, out of the 19.23 million tourists from all over the world, 651,912 tourists from Iran and the six Gulf countries visited various parts of Thailand, spending an average of 10 days with tourism receipts of between 4,000 and 5,000 Bahts a day or $153 a day.

The 19.23 million tourists spent $25 billion while the 651,912 spent $1.093 million.

Though there has been a decrease of 3.38 per cent in the first three months of 2012, the slump coming mostly from Iran, which according to the TAT regional office was the number one source of tourists in 2011, the visiting tourism official still expressed a positive outlook.

This is brought about by the continuous development of family-inspired tourism destinations and packages, including the expansion and modernisation of the Phuket International Airport, eyed to be the second international gateway of the country, which would service 12.5 million visitors in 2014.

Delta Ban Travel and Tours tour manager Mophammad Valimirza, whose clients are basically from Iran, mentioned of the astute marketing and advertising schemes employed by Bangkok.

“They work in very close co-ordination with people like us on the ground to know what our clients really want and work on these,” he added.

Discovery Holidays-Asian, Middle East and Gulf marketing director Eric Anthony Culaton shared the view that Bangkok has been very keen on promoting the country throughout the year, holding roadshows in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and India, besides Japan and South Korea.

Related posts:

1. Saudi Tourism Strategy Takes Shape Looks like Saudi Arabia is also looking to diversify into...
2. Malaysia Still Behind In Medical Tourism, Says NCCIM Although Malaysia is an Islamic country, tourists from the Middle...
3. Egypt: Egyptian tourism workers reject proposal for halal tourism Egyptians in the tourism sector are worried that proposals by...
4. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia in tourism pact Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand will launch a joint tourism package...
5. Malaysian tourism industry achieves exemplary growth Malaysia recorded a 5.1 per cent increase in tourist...