The president of the World Halal Food Council (WHFC) Ir. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si with the General Secretary of Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) Drs. H. Mohammad Ichwan Syam, officially opened the WHFC Office for Europe Regional, and Executive Committee for Europe that located in The Netherlands on March, 17th, 2012. The Opening of the new office also attended by the ambassador Republic of Indonesia for The Netherland and also Ambassador from Malaysia.
“The establishment and the opening of executive committee or the Head of Representative for this continent are intended to strengthen the works in fields that related to Halal, and to facilitate coordination and observing in implementation of halal standards that have been stipulated together with MUI and WHFC”, said Ichwan Syam.
Ichwan Syam also explained that for the Europe Regional, The Chairman of Executive Committee is Dr. Abdul Munim Al-Chaman, The President of Halal Quality Control and also a leading Muslim figure in Holland. Besides that, the executive Committee of WHFC is also formed for Asia continent in Taiwan, it is led by Isa s. Chao who also led Taiwan Halal Integrity Development Association (THIDA). For the region of Australia, led by Esad Alagic the leader of The Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV). As for the United States, led by Dr. Mohammed Munir Chaudry from The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).
In series ceremony of inauguration of the Secretariat office and Halal coordination in Europe, the Chairman of MUI and LPPOM MUI also followed the Halal Conference and became the speaker in the conference that was held on March 22, 2012 by Halal Food Council of Europe in Brussels.
At the Conference, the general secretary explained, Halal Market is a very prospective and potential opportunities which is grown significantly. It is proved from the increasing of Halal certification demand in Indonesia, and other area members of WHFC. In Fact, in some countries, the Supermarket that spesifically sell Halal products.has already opened and operated.
The conference was attended not only by the chairman of MUI and LPPOM MUI but also followed by more than 120 participants from among the leading industry’s and Halal Certification agencies in Europe, filled with speakers from the Executive Committee for Europe, Malaysia, JAKIM and Ambassador RI to Belgium.