Saudi Billionaire Sheikh Saleh Kamel Is New World Halal Forum Chairman

The Secretariat of the World Halal Forum, the largest and most influential forum of its kind in the world, has announced the appointment of Dato’ Seri Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel of Saudi Arabia as its new chairman. Sheikh Saleh takes over the post from Khairy Jamaluddin, who completed the two-year term as the Chairman of WHF (2006-2007).

Sheikh Saleh is currently the chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an OIC organ representing business chambers from the 57 member countries and also chairman of the General Council for Islamic Banks.

Born in 1941 in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Saleh is both and a highly successful businessman and a passionate activist for Islamic economy. He is the founder and chairman of Dallah Al Baraka Group, a conglomerate with interests in banking, media, agriculture and services in more than 32 countries. Forbes ranked Sheikh Saleh the 114 richest person in the world.

Sheikh Kamel has established the Islamic Economics Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the Saleh Abdallah Kamel Centre for Islamic and Commercial Research & Studies, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

Dallah al Baraka Group also conducts the Al-Baraka Annual Seminar on Islamic Economics and Ramadan Annual Symposium and Seminar. It created the Islamic Economy Analytical Indices, The Quranic Verses Indexing and Classification Program, Islamic Economic Rules, The Computerized Encyclopedia of Economic Fatwas and programmes on Carrying Out Islamic Translations by Means of Modern Techniques, Positive Contributions in Establishing the Islamic Banks Information Center and Intra-Islamic Banks Research Coordination Center.

Taking over for the new term which commences in 2008 Sheikh Saleh will undertake his maiden keynote address at the opening of the WHF 2008 on May 12, 2008.

The World Halal Forum Secretariat believes that the new World Halal Forum chairman will take the event and its programmes to even higher levels and on global scale, and fit seamlessly into this year’s theme “Sustainable Development through Investment & Integration”.

The Secretariat thanks its outgoing chairman Khairy for his pivotal role in creating the awareness and appreciation of halal through the World Halal Forum.

His leadership, based on clear directions and strong principles has made the World Halal Forum a force to be reckoned with globally in two short years.

To be held on May 12 and 13, 2008, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, WHF 2008 will be hosted by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and organised by KasehDia Sdn Bhd (KasehDia). The two-day event is expecting a massive turnout of some 1,000 participants, ranging from trade ministers, industry leaders, government representatives and international halal certification bodies who discuss and deliberate on topics that stand to shape the growth and direction of the global halal industry.

Sectors represented in at the WHF are manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, finance, retail, investment, trading, research, training and certification.

Part of the WHF programme is the WHF Industry Dialogues, organised in different countries throughout the year including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Singapore, Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa and China.

For further information on the forthcoming WHF 2008, log into www.worldhalalforum.org or contact the WHF Secretariat at +603-6203 1025