Halal industry movers eye retailers' participation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Government agencies have unified to further strengthen the halal industry in Mindanao through initiatives aimed at attracting more players even from the retail sector.

Nelly Nita N. Dillera, Department of Trade and Industry-Central Mindanao chief for business development, said the two-day Halal Retail Merchandising Seminar on July 24 here and July 25 in Tacurong City.

“The seminar aims to orient retailers on the significance (of halal) merchandising and at the same time provide information on how their stores can be considered halal (outlets),” she said.

The seminar will also discuss how to be an accredited halal establishment, the halal food production and product assurance system.

Dillera said that business opportunities in the global halal industry – which has an estimated global trade value of $200 to $350 billion annually - will also be tackled.

In the domestic market, producers or retailers of halal products can tap the six to eight million Filipino Muslims, she added.

Across the globe, there are an estimated 1.5 to 1.8 billion Islamic practitioners scattered in over 100 countries.

Aside from the Trade department, other government line agencies backing the promotion of halal industry are the Departments of Science and Technology, of Agriculture and of Tourism, the Office of Muslim Affairs and Islamic religious scholars, Dillera said.

Last January, a group of ulama crafted the Philippine National Standards on Halal in Zamboanga City, where they also created the Philippine Halal Accreditation Board. The standard was launched in March but is still unclear if Malacanang has approved it.

Zenaida P. Laidan, DOST Southwestern Mindanao director who recently spoke at the 3rd World Halal Forum in Malaysia, repeatedly urged concerned government agencies to work together to develop the country’s halal industry.

She also called for a review of the ulama-led halal standards, citing the apparent “lack of scientific and technical considerations in coming up with such guidelines.”

Laidan, the only female Muslim scientist in the Science and Technology department, stressed that religious and scientific aspects must go hand-in-hand if the country is to develop a credible halal industry.

She bared plans to build up a P50-million halal science testing and research facility in Koronadal City, the regional seat of government.

“Being a non-Islamic country, it is highly necessary for Philippines to have a halal standards and testing laboratory to boost the integrity of locally-made halal products,” she said.

Laidan noted such measure “will put credibility to the bid of the country’s halal manufacturers to carve a niche in the global halal market.”

She said the DoST’s science and technology-based halal development program primarily targets to empower micro, small and medium enterprises as primary players in the country’s halal industry.

“They shall be assisted in creating a niche in the global halal market by making their products highly compliant to both Shariah and science requirements to ensure product-acceptability in the international market,” she said.