By Achong Tanjong
The International Halal Products Expo from August 14 -17 in Berakas will be the best platform for Bruneian firms to
set up business ties with foreign countries especially in promoting and marketing halal products.
This was stated yesterday by the Head of the Organising Committee Secretariat and Acting Director of Agriculture,
Hajah Normah Suria Hayati bte PJDSMDSU (Dr) Awg Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri.
She said the expo has received 260 participants this year compared to last year’s 160.
Local participation in the expo is very encouraging with 145 exhibitors, she said. Topping the list of foreign exhibitors
is Malaysia with 75 participants.
Other international exhibitors will come from Australia, Algeria, China, Dubai, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Thailand,
Turkey, Syria and Vietnam.
The organiser has invited foreign participants for business matching which will provide participants with useful
business and networking tips for developing ventures in the halal industry, she said.
It is hoped participants, especially the overseas players, can invest in the country or promote and market local products
through networking.
She hopes the business matching will be a platform for investment opportunities for local companies to market local
products in foreign countries.
Several local firms and processing products recognised as halal would be using their halal certification logo during the
exhibition. She said the logo is only for processing products. By using the halal logo, local products can reach other
Muslim markets, she said.
Apart from halal food products, the expo will also feature other related halal products such clothing, pharmaceutical
and cosmetics.
The expo will be open to the public on Friday, from 10am to 10pm. It is an opportunity for Bruneians to shop locally
and see for themselves the halal products on sale the organiser said.
She said last year, the expo managed to attract more than 30,000 people.
She urged local entrepreneurs to visit and participate in the business matching on Thursday afternoon, and learn from
overseas participants looking for business partners.
The event is co-organised by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Ministry of
Religious Affairs and Ministry of Health.
