MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
approved a proposal of a large Saudi Arabia food processing company to
expand its operations in the Philippines to produce Halal-certified
foods, particularly chicken.
Sheik Adnan Zainy, chairman of the board of directors of the Abbar
& Zainy Group of Companies based in Saudi Arabia, made the offer
when he called on the President in Malacañang.
Zainy said his company would bring in a group of experts in Halal
food preparations who would certify whether an operation is
Halal-qualified.
The company services a large portion of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East with its Halal chicken.
Trade Secretary Peter Favila, who joined the President in the
closed door meeting, said the President was “happy” with the
development because this pledge meant that “our labor is bearing
results.”
Favila said the President’s trips abroad, particularly to Europe
and the Middle East wherein she projected the Philippines as an
alternative investment site, had great impact on international
businessmen.
“The President is happy with the developments because this is a
product of the visits she did, specifically when we went to Jeddah,” he
said.
Aside from food processing, Abbar & Zainy is also one of Saudi
Arabia’s largest importers of tropical fruits such as bananas and
pineapples which it sources from the Philippines.
It is also a well-known cold storage facility provider with four offices scattered all over the Middle East.
