At the Makkah Halal Forum currently being held in Makkah from the 23-25 January, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel, President of Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, in his opening speech emphasised the significance of Makkah Halal Forum as a global business platform seeking to make an unprecedented leap in the Halal industry, transforming it into an integrated industry globally.
H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel indicated that the forum is one of the Manafea Partnership Mega events aiming to transform Makkah and Al Madinah into international Business and investment hubs for Muslims from across the globe.
“From Makkah, we launch “Makkah Halal Forum”, to be the annual global hub where all of us contribute to the enhancement of our interest in Halal industry, being one of the cores of our religion, transforming Halal into a global, professional, uplifting and driving industry in every aspect of life”.
During the Forum there was the signing an MOU between Manafea Partnership, represented by the the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) Secretary General, and the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI)
This collaboration aims to establish a cooperative framework that serves the interests of Islamic countries, by promoting Manafea’s initiatives in Pakistan, organizing business delegations to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hosting joint events to expand the scope of Manafea activities on a broader scale.
In an effort to strengthen collaboration and pave the way for a prosperous future in the Halal industry, the ICCD Secretary General, joined hands with Halal Products Company HPDC, represented in its CEO, Fahad Alnuhait by signing an MOU, on the sidelines of Makkah Halal Forum.
The agreement provides a partnership to advance the Halal industry, transforming it into a well-integrated professional industry, as well as positioning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a prominent global hub for Halal, out of its geographic and spiritual significance, through exchanging knowledge and expertise about Halal ecosystems, and hosting joint events and initiatives to raise awareness about Halal principles worldwide.
H.E. Dr. Hisham Aljadhai, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drug Authority, explained, “The Saudi Vision 2030 includes several significant initiatives, one of them is the establishment of the Saudi Halal Center, through a regulatory system in collaboration with various government entities, aiming to enhance confidence in the authenticity of halal products and ensure international alignment with halal regulations, as well as utilize the opportunities of the Halal economy to develop the national economy”.
Ihsan Övüt Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) highlighted the tireless endeavors of SMIIC in illuminating the significance of Halal standards and propelling the growth of the Halal industry and trade across OIC member nations.
“Up until now we have developed 20 standards about different halal issues. SMIIC has created a system for unified halal standards, and we encourage all our member states, including the private and public sectors to use them”.
“Within the last 10 years, we’ve started to establish committees, especially in the Halal issuances, like Halal food, Halal cosmetics, Halal supply chain, and many more. We are working to help facilitate Halal trade in OIC Countries.”
About Manafea Partnership
A tripartite partnership signed between the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Makkah Chamber and Madina Chamber, to strengthen cooperation among the three parties in organizing a series of major international events that contribute to promoting economic development, research and Islamic art & culture in the 57 OIC member countries and the world at large.
Press Report – 28 December 2022
“MANAFEE” PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHING CEREMONY BETWEEN ICCIA, MAKKAH CHAMBER AND MADINA CHAMBER
In the midst of the strenuous efforts to promote the economic and social development of OIC member countries, and under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, a ceremony has been held to launch “Manafee” Partnership between the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Makkah and Madina chambers, on Wednesday, the 28th of December 2022, at Makkah Chamber for Exhibitions and Events Center, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of the Presidents and high-level representatives from the member chambers and relevant international institutions and organizations.
As part of ICCIA’s steadfast drive to advance its member states, the tripartite partnership is based on 9 innovative tracks that are intended to accomplish a cultural, heritage, and urban leap for Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. It also strives to focus on strengthening joint cooperation between the Islamic Chamber, Makkah Chamber and Madinah Chamber, through organizing a series of joint events in the areas of investment, industry, halal, art and Islamic culture, and other topics that contribute to the advancement of the Islamic economy globally. Moreover, one of the main pillars of the partnership is investing in the holy status of Makkah and Madinah to transform them into hubs for business events and effective platforms for Islamic knowledge and creativity.
In this regard, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel, President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Makkah Chamber, emphasized, during his opening speech at the ceremony, the role of the tripartite partnership “Manafee” in achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, indicating: “The title of the Saudi Vision 2030 is: “Saudi Arabia: The Heart the Arab and Islamic Worlds, the Investment Powerhouse, and the Hub Connecting Three Continents”, and we were inspired by this vision in Manafee Partnership”.
Underlining the significance of this role, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel also pointed out the “Made in Makkah” initiative and “The Permanent Exhibition of the Islamic Countries’ Products and Services”, as part of the initiatives the partnership intends to launch, praising the strenuous efforts of the three partners, supported by H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Majid Abdullah Al-Qasabi, to launch this partnership which contributes significantly to transforming Makkah and Madina into attraction hubs for business events and a platform for Islamic knowledge and creativity.
For his part, H.E. Mr. Mounir Mohamed Nasser bin Saad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Madina Chamber of Commerce and Industry, indicated, during his speech at the ceremony, that the tripartite partnership “Manafee” serves as a diversified platform for the advancement of the Islamic business sector. It is also an international extension that contributes to the implementation of many of the axes of the Saudi Vision 2030.
Out of the Saudi government’s support to the solid steps taken by the three parties to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030, we’re honored by the speech of H.E. Dr. Majid Abdullah AlQasabi, Minister of Commerce and Acting, Minister of Media of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Patron of the partnership launching Ceremony “Manafee”, during which his excellency highlighted the desired role of the Partnership in boosting the economic cooperation across the Islamic nation, stating: “I hope that the partnership tracks would be an incentive for determination to implement diversified initiatives, in order to improve the performance of chambers of commerce and strengthen our commercial cooperation and constructive economic relations”.
The Launching Ceremony of “Manafee” Partnership among the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Makkah and Madina Chambers is one of the solid steps taken by ICCIA to strengthen its cooperation with the member countries in various areas that serve the Islamic economy and advance it globally. Therefore, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agricultural is committed to complement its tireless endeavors to advance the economic and social development across the OIC member countries and the world at large.
About ICCIA:
Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and agriculture is an international institution affiliated of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It represents the private sector of 57 member countries of OIC, as well as observer members and other associate members from Muslim minorities. ICCIA aims at strengthening cooperation among its member states in the areas of trade, Industry, and information technology, and promoting Investment opportunities and joint- projects among member states. Its membership consists of national chambers, unions, councils of chambers of commerce and industry in OIC member states.
ICCIA was established based on the decision of the Seventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, which took place In May, 1976 in Istanbul, Turkey. And was adopted by the first conference of chambers of commerce and industry in the Islamic world countries, which also held in Istanbul, Turkey in Oct., 1977.
Later, the constitution of ICCIA was passed by the second conference of chambers of commerce and Industry in Islamic world countries, which held in Dec., 1978 in Karachi. Its headquarters in Karachi, the economic capital of the Republic of Pakistan.
