Ijtihad Network Being Wise and Faithful Muslim in the Contemporary World
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia will host the World Halal Week 2016 themed ‘BEYOND THE ECONOMY’ on 28th March to 2nd April 2016 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The WHW 2016, led by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), will feature the world-renowned Halal trade fair, the 13th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) — organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) — the World Halal Conference (WHC) by Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and the 7th JAKIM International Halal Certification Bodies Convention by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
The event, themed ‘BEYOND THE ECONOMY’, marks Malaysia’s determination to identify the untapped potential of the Halal industry beyond the trade and commercial values. The event also seeks to create a fresh perspective on the socio-economic significance of the global Halal industry.
The WHW 2016 will kick-start with the 7th JAKIM International Halal Certification Bodies Convention (from the 28th to 29th March 2016). Themed ‘Towards the New Dimension of Halal’, the convention will gather more than 55 JAKIM-recognised Halal certification bodies (CBs) in an effort to develop and strengthen relationships, as well as to exchange opinions on Halal certification issues based on the Malaysian Halal Standard and experience. The event will be held at Sama- Sama Hotel in Sepang.
Complementing the WHW 2016 is the 13th MIHAS to be held in KLCC. This annual event will highlight the enormous potential of the global Halal market. Since its inauguration, MIHAS has attracted approximately 200,000 visitors from 70 nations, 4,300 companies from 48 countries and generated more than USD3 billion in sales. MIHAS is recognised globally as a value-adding platform that promotes cross-border economic investments and business partnerships.
“Malaysia has long been championing the Halal trade in the region and in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries. However, with the growing demand for Halal products internationally, it is time to take Halal exports beyond these regions. MIHAS 2016 will focus on exploring new markets and boosting Halal exports, increasing small-and-medium enterprise participation in the export sector and ensuring Malaysia remains competitive as the marketplace for quality Halal products and services,” Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, CEO of MATRADE, said.
The Halal industry has expanded beyond the F&B sector and includes tourism, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, media and recreation as well as e-commerce, among others. Reflective of this, MIHAS will open its door to Halal e-commerce platforms such as Salaam Gateway developed by Thomson Reuters and will also showcase value-based musical performance by IslamicTunes.
To be held alongside MIHAS is an International Sourcing Programme, or INSP, which is a one-day business matching programme between potential international buyers and local companies. The INSP is a great medium for Malaysian suppliers to generate export sales with prospective global buyers. Last year, MIHAS generated total sales of RM1.1 billion of which RM655.8 million were from the exhibition and RM443.2 million were recorded from the business matching session. Over the past 12 years, MIHAS has generated more than RM11 billion through the exhibition and business matching programme.
The 9th World Halal Conference (WHC) 2016, to be held from 30th – 31st March at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, is expected to host several heads of governments and corporate leaders, including from the UAE, Turkey, Japan, China, Korea, Qatar, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Indonesia. Several of Malaysia’s key Ministers will also be in attendance. More than 1000 delegates from 50 countries are expected to participate in the conference.
According to HDC’s CEO Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, “Through various programmes such as intellectual conferences, international collaborations, innovations initiatives and trade-investment promotions, Malaysia is now recognized as the leader in the global Halal hub. The State of Global Islamic Economy Report 2015 placed Malaysia at the top spot in sectors such as the Halal Economy indicator, Halal Food and Halal Travel. We will continue to promote and expand the Halal industry’s contributions to the Malaysian economy and our society’s well-being.”
The WHW 2016 represents a major opportunity for Malaysia to achieve its goal of becoming a global Halal hub. The Halal industry is fast becoming a strong business attraction for not only Muslim nations but the non-Muslim countries too. The industry’s business proposition offers a wholesome concept as it emphasises care for the social environment, stringent animal welfare and ethical funding and management – all of which are universally shared values.
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