Thailand: Digitalizing Halal Initiatives, Boosting Thai Halal in Global Market

 

“Thailand Halal Assembly 2023,” hosted by Chulalongkorn University’s Halal Science Center at Nouvo City Hotel, was a grand halal event with the goal to modernize traditional halal ways and promote Thai halal in the global market. The event was organized under the theme “Digitalizing Halal Initiatives for Fostering Halal Trust.” Mr. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, and Mr. Aroon Boonchom, Chularajmontri, opened the ceremony, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Surin Palare, Secretary General of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, Mr. Ihsan Ovut, Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Prof. Dr. Chakkaphan Sutthirat, Chulalongkorn University’s Vice President, gave a welcome speech.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Winai Dahlan, Director of the Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University and the head of the event, said that this year’s “Thailand Halal Assembly” under the theme “Digitalizing Halal Initiatives for Fostering Halal Trust” highlights Thailand as the leader in halal science and developer of digital halal with the hope to modernize traditional halal notions and increase accessibility to halal.

The event featured 3 academic conferences:

1) The International Halal Science and Technology Conference 2023 (IHSATEC 2023): An academic and research conference which featured 71 presentations from various countries, namely Egypt, the USA, Yemen, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Brunei, Cambodia, Sudan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago. Papers selected by reviewers will be published in Journal of Halal Science, Industry, and Business (JHASIB) 2024 (Vol.2, No.1). The inaugural volume of JHASIB 2023 will be published online, and partially in print.

2) The 16th Halal Science and Business International Conference (HASIB): This year’s HASIB included over 30 knowledgeable speakers from over 10 countries presenting on various fields, including halal science, digital technology, food security, and innovation. The conference was held in 6 sessions:

• Session 1: Digitalizing Halal Initiatives for Fostering Halal Trust
• Session 2: Tech-Driven Halal Assurance: Innovations for the Current Era”
• Session 3: Harnessing Technology for Halal: Advancements in Food, Cosmetic, and Natural Product Industries
• Session 4: Innovations in Food and Ingredients: From Nature’s Bounty to Advanced Solutions
• Session 5: Innovations in Halal Sustainability and Healthcare
• session 6: Halal Assurance and Technological Advancements

3) The 9th International Halal Standards: The event featured a showcase of 3 digital platforms as follows:

1. Halal Route: an application with travel information for every region of Thailand for both Muslim and non-Muslim tourists from all over the world. The app provides information on halal restaurants, Muslim communities and mosques, as well as important tourist destinations. The app was developed following a cabinet resolution on August 8, 2023.
2. Thailand Diamond Halal Through HAL-Q Plus Halal Standardization System
3. Diamond Halal Blockchain: a quality and condition control technology throughout the halal supply chain

The event also included an exhibition of 17 research and innovations by scientists at CU Halal Science Center as follows:

1. Acne cream product mixed with kaolin, bentonite and black cumin seed oil
2. Natural sunscreen with kaolin plus black cumin seed oil
3. Antioxidant-Rich Hydrating Lip Balm from Perilla Seed Pomace extract
4. Anti acne film forming solution with banana peel extract
5. Najis Cleansing Clay Liquid Soap
6. Liposome Nanoparticle from Krill Oil for Storing Perilla Seeds Extract
7. Palm – Perilla edible oil blends with healthy omega-6 and omega-3 ratios
8. Sweetened margarine with a balanced omega fat ratio
9. Omega fat-balancing sauce for stir-fried holy basil dish
10. Rapid Test kit on Non-Halal Animals in Halal Food Products
11. Porcine DNA Detection Kit
12. Red Tilapia Fish Noodles Fortified with Wolffia and the Production Method
13. Halal plant-based liquid egg
14. Microcapsule Powder from Cold-pressed Black Seed Oil and Its Production Method
15. Low Fat Milk Fortified with Microcapsule Containing Black Cumin Seed Oil
16. Functional Salad Dressing Fortified with Omega-3 and Its Process
17. Japanese Sweet Potato Based Custard Fortified with Omega-6 and Its Process

In addition, the Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University signed an MOU for halal science academic, technological, and innovation cooperation with 15 organizations, namely

1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta   Indonesia
2. Halal Center, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
3. Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Semarang, Indonesia
4. Halal Center, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Indonesia
5. Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Indonesia
6. Institute of Research and Community Service, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Indonesia
7. The Halal Center, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Indonesia
8. Pusat Studi Gizi & Halal Center, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Indonesia
9. Universitas Jambi, Indonesia
10. Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang, Indonesia
11. Universitas Teknologi Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Indonesia
12. University Institute of Food Science and Technology, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
13.  Mongolian Halal Development Association, Mongolia
14. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Indonesia
15. Implementation of Arrangement, UNISBA, Indonesia

Thailand Halal Assembly 2023 was a success with at least 500 participants onsite and over 5,000 online from 38 countries: Indonesia, Türkiye, Cambodia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Bosnia and Herzegovina, New Zealand, Qatar, Colombia, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherland, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, The Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (USA), Vietnam Yemen, and Thailand.

Thailand Halal Assembly is a platform to present Halal concepts in the digital world to increase accessibility for everyone. The Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University is committed to ceaselessly building halal trust.