Bogor, (ANTARA News) – Thailand`s Chulalongkorn University has reached
an agreement with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) in Bogor,
West Java, to share information on halal food production.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cooperation was signed here
Thursday by the director of Cuulalangkorn University`s Halal Science
Center, Dr Winai Dahlan, and IPB Deputy Rector for Research and
Cooperation, Dr Anas Miftah Fauzi.
The cooperation would cover exchange of researchers, students, as well
as exchange of information regarding halal food production.
“In Thailand, it`s difficult to get halal food. This fact prompted us
to establish a halal food research center at Chulalongkorn University
and familiarize industries in Thailand with halal food,” Dahlan said.
Some 10 percent or six million people of Thailand`s population are Moslem, he said.
Also present at the MoU`s signing were the director general of
international economic affairs of Thailand Foreign Affairs Ministry,
Thanatip and a representative of the Thai Embassy in Jakarta, Chambalah
Charoenying.
Today, Thailand has 71 industries producing halal food.
Winai admitted there were some misunderstandings among Thai people on
halal food. “They see halal food as special food for Moslems. In fact,
it is food that can be consumed by Moslems,” he added.
Predominantly Muslim countries like Indonesia, he said, were importing
food from Europe, Australia and the United States which had yet to be
guaranteed as being halal food.
“Why don`t we do something together to produce halal food at least for
the ASEAN region,” he said adding that halal food should become a trend
setter for world food production.
In a project to develop a halal food laboratory, Chulalongkorn
University had invited IPB to develop halal food jointly. “We need a
lot of information on the concept to establish a halal food laboratory
in Thailand,” he said.
Meanwhile, IPB Rector Dr.Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto MSc said the
cooperation with the Thai university was expected to bring benefit to
the people.
After the signing of the MoU, the 12-member Thai delegation visited
University Farm, an agricultural business center developed by IPB and
Taiwan`s Technical Mission, and the Southeast Asian Food Agriculture
Science and Technology Project (SEAFAST), a joint project of Texas
A&M University of the United States and IPB.(*)
