OIC sets its eyes on $580b global halal industry

The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)has set its eyes on the $580 billion global halal industry and earmarked the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to look into the developing sector.

The ICCI president, Shaikh Saleh Kamel said the ICCI would look into the most basic yet important aspect of the lucrative halal sector, which is global standards and certification.

"The global halal industry is huge and yet there is no official authority that looks into the integrity of the halal mark on a global scale. Now there will be one," said Shaikh Saleh in Dakar.

The OIC at the 11th Summit recognised the ICCI as the principle representative of the private sector in OIC member states as regards to values, halal and quality control, and urged all Islamic governments to facilitate the procedures for activating its mechanism.

Shaikh Saleh said that this initiative was expected to help develop and modernise the halal sector, which affects 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, foster trade, and facilitate access to genuine halal products in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

"There is a need to ensure the entire supply chain of halal products is protected for the benefit of the Ummah and also those in the industry.

"ICCI's mission for halal is not only to provide credible and professional halal certification but also to help develop existing halal certification bodies to be at par with global industry requirements," he said.

Details of the ICCI's global halal programme will be unveiled at the third World Halal Forum, a business gathering of global industry leaders on 12th and 13th May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this year.

At the summit, World Halal Forum founder Jumaatun Azmi said, "It is timely that the 57 member countries of the OIC give its attention on the needs of the halal industry and gave the responsibility to the ICCI to act. With the right partnership and mechanism, work can be done to properly develop the global halal industry for the benefit of all.