His Majesty launches the fourth International Halal Products Expo
Bandar Seri Begawan – His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to attend the launch of the
fourth International Halal Products Expo at the International
Convention Centre in Berakas, which will be held for four days until
August 2.
The annual event is co-organised by the Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Religious Affairs.
His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by the Minister of Industry and
Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang
Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar; Minister of Health,
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin
Haji Osman; and Minster of Religious Affairs, Pehin Jawatan Luar
Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Mohd Zain bin Hj Serudin.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji
Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime
Minister’s Office, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul ‘Azim, His Royal
Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness ‘Abdul Mateen.
The Brunei government is aiming to have up to 100 products under the Brunei Halal Brand by June next year.
Acting Director of Agriculture Department of the Industry and
Primary Resources Ministry, Hjh Normah Suria Hayati Pehin Jawatan Dalam
Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, said
currently two products were marketed under the brand- prawn crackers
and orange fresh drink.
“Initially, the Brunei Halal brand mark will appear on food and
beverage products. In future, the range will be expanded to include
health, beauty and pharmaceutical products,” she told Bernama on the
sidelines of the expo.
She said the government has set up a company, Ghanim International
Food Cooperation Sdn Bhd, to promote and market the halal products
under the brand.
Brunei Halal Brand is a project initiated in late 2004 by the
ministry with the cooperation of Brunei Islamic Religious Council,
Religious Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry.
Hjh Normah said any product that carried the brand would have
undergone rigorous inspections and tests to ensure it complied with the
country’s halal standards.
She said through the Brunei Halal Brand, businesses, especially
small and medium enterprises, would be able to penetrate the world
market.
She said the Brunei Halal Brand initiative is also part of the country’s effort to diversify its economy.
The event yesterday began with the recital of surah al-fatihah by
the State Mufti of Brunei Darussalam, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato
Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Awang Juned.
His Majesty then officiated the International Halal Products Expo 2009.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Hamid
bin Haji Jaafar, later presented a pesambah to His Majesty in the form
of a ship.
A doa selamat was then recited by the State Mufti.
His Majesty proceeded to the Plenary Hall to view the exhibits,
featuring 135 companies of which 88 are local companies while the rest
come from Singapore, Philippines, Syria, China, Japan and Yemen
showcasing their halal products and services at the expo.
Coinciding with the expo is a two-day conference themed `Halal: An
Engine of Growth and Opportunity’ which will be held at the main hall
of ICC starting tomorrow, which will see 12 speakers delivering their
presentations.
His Majesty and the royal entourage later took a group photo with
the event organising committee, Cabinet Ministers, deputy Cabinet
Ministers, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries and
senior officers from the Ministry of Industry of Primary Resources,
Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
One of the companies participating in the expo is Sabli Food Industries, a popular local canned food producer in the country.
Its participation in the expo this year comes with a difference as
it has now incorporated the new Halal certificate logo in all of its 40
canned products.
According to Hj Mohd Nooh OKMD Hj Saman, Manager of the company, the
application for the Halal certificate did not take too long. It roughly
took two months and during that time period every ingredient used in
making canned products was audited.
“The officials ensured that all of the ingredients like salt and
Ajinomoto are truly halal. Then the report was submitted to the
Agriculture Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources as
well as the Halal Food Control, Syariah Welfare Department, Ministry of
Religious Affairs,” he added.
He added that each product has its own Halal certificate, which must be renewed annually.
“There are two types of Halal certificates, one for the factory and another for the product.
“Now that the Brunei Halal certificate has taken effect, we have
much more confidence now to export our products overseas. Previously,
we only had the Halal logo on our products but now it’s much easier to
deal with marketing our products outside and gain more of our buyers’
confidence.
“We are now planning to export our products, now that we have the
Halal certificate it certainly increases the plus factor of the
products to appeal to foreign countries, especially Islamic countries,”
he said. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin