Malaysia: HDC to organise World Halal Week

KUALimgresA LUMPUR: After five years organising World Halal Research Summit (WHR), the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) will introduce World Halal Week (WHW) Conference 2013 beginning this year.

The previous World Halal Research Summit (WHR) and the World Halal Forum are now known as the WHW Conference.

The two-day WHW Conference will see 20 speakers and panelists, who will present their thoughts, views and recommendations on how the halal industry can create momentum for greater world participation by its players and business organisations.

HDC is anticipating about 500 participants, including industry players, stakeholders, technocrats, specialists in halal science and multinational corporations.

“WHW Conference will gather, conduct and evaluate all halal developments and industry advancements “under one roof” to represent its collective and concerted spirit to move forward in the halal front.

“We have chosen the theme “Halal Economy: Creating the Momentum” as every aspect of halal development is important to us, a clear recognition of a step forward for the halal economy,” said HDC chief executive Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin in a statement.

WHW Conference will take place from April 3 to April 4 while World Halal Week will take centre stage from April 3 to April 6 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Speakers at the conference include International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies principal research fellow Dr Karim Douglas Crow; Halal Industry Development Corp head of management (strategic marketing & communications) Prof Pervaiz Ahmed; the Muslim Council of Britain (health committee) chair Dr Shuja Shafi; Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd managing director Alois Hodfbauer; GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals managing director Francis Del-Val; and Institute of Banking & Islamic/Finance Malaysia CEO Datuk Adnan Alias.

WHW 2013 is partnered by three entities – MIHAS, which will stage an international showcase of halal products, goods and services, HDC and International Halal Integrity Alliance for the international conference section.

The event will deliberate on topics of innovation and specific topics on addressing halal concern.

Those who wish to participate in the WHW Conference may register online at whr.hdcglobal.com.

There is a special student rate upon request.