Move To Develop Halal Market In Bangladesh

DHAKA -- A Halal Malaysia Week 2008 will be organised in Dhaka in July to promote and popularise halal products in Bangladesh.

Hazizah Awang, president of Epic Tips, a promotion and marketing agency for Malaysian entrepreneurs, told a press conference in Dhaka Saturday that at least 50 Malaysian companies will participate in the exhibition to be organised during the Halal Malaysia Week.

"The halal market in Bangladesh is huge and it is not just food products but it includes services and logistics," said Hazizah.

She said that her organisation will also assist Bangladesh authorities to develop a halal certification body in this country.

Datuk Hashim Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of

Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development, told newsmen that Bangladesh would reap benefits from this promotion and marketing of halal products.

"Bangladeshi entrepreneurs can create a network with their Malaysian counterparts to develop the halal market," Hashim said.

"We are aware about Bangladesh’s untapped market where majority of consumers are Muslims," he said.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Datuk Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz said Malaysia would cooperate to develop the halal market in Bangladesh and the Halal Malaysia Week in July would contribute a lot in this regard.

According to organisers of the event, about 1.8 billion Muslims in 142 countries are the main consumers of halal products.

The halal foods market, valued at US$900 billion, is expected to grow 16-25 percent annually until 2025