The Third Moscow International Halal Exhibition
The largest halal exhibition in Russia – Moscow Halal Expo 2012 was held in Moscow, All-Russian Exhibition Centre (Pavilion ? 75) from June 7-10, 2012. The stated objective of the Exhibition was to stimulate the growth of the Russian halal products and services market, Islamic business and finance, and to create an Islamic culture arena. The event was organized by the Russia Muftis Council supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Moscow and Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT). The general partner of the Moscow Halal Expo 2012 was the international internet project SalamWorld.
The number of exhibitors in the Exhibition exceeded a hundred this year, showing a more than 25% growth compared with the previous year, and almost doubles the results of the first Exhibition in 2010. Delegations from Turkey, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, France, Poland, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Kirgizia, Iran, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates came to the Exhibition. For the first time representatives of Sudan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Philippines visited the event. Among Russian regions companies from Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Mordovia, Dagestan and the Chechen Republic took a particularly active part.
30 delegations from around the world came to the event. Among guests of honour there was royalty from Saudi Arabia, the head of the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), Mohamad A. Al Kanhal Ph.D; the assistant manager of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) Ça?ri Cankurtaran; the president of the European Muslim Union, the member of the executive of the Salamworld, Abu Bakr Rieger; the chairman of the technical committee ? 57 for standardization of HALAL production of the Ministry of industry and new technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan Marat Sarsenbayev; the governing body of the World Islamic Economic Forum and other dignitaries.
From June 7th to 8th the Business Forum ‘International Experience and Prospects of Halal and Islamic Finance Market’ took place within the Third Moscow International Halal Exhibition. The event was supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation, the Government of Moscow, IHI Alliance, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, The Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries. The organizing partners were the ‘Agro Media Group’ company and the UFS Investment Company. Among the speakers there was the president of ASSAIF Alberto Brugnoni; the CEO of Al Huda Cibe (Pakistan) Zubair Mugal; the Sharia adviser of Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Justice Khalil ul Rehman and members of Russian Association of Experts in Islamic Finance. For those who desired special business meetings were organized during the Business Forum, where representatives of interested companies were able to discuss the opportunities of further cooperation, come to agreements about business deals and conclude contracts.
The June, 9, the Muslim Youth Forum ‘Muslim youth of Russia in modern realities’ took place within Moscow Halal Expo 2012. At the Forum, that included for sessions of different directions, the member of the UK Treasury Technical Working Group on Islamic Finance Fazl Syed, the chairman of the Moscow Students Associations Union Kantemir Hurtayev, deputy chairman of the SalamWorld Ahmad Azimov spoke.
On June, 10, the Festival of national cuisine of Muslim nations was organized by the Russia Muftis Council and the International Center for Halal Standardization and Certification. The First International Festival ‘Muslim Style’ organized by the Russia Muftis Council jointly with the International producer center ‘Next Art’ was also held.
