“We have just launched an insurance product specifically for agriculture and livestock. It covers, for example, animals’ mortality and accidental death. We did a soft launch in December last year. Once everything is finalised, we will roll it out together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Bank Negara.”

R P Perumal

Manager
Tani Malaysia Project,
Oriental Capital Assurance Bhd
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“In Denmark, Halal is a very niche market mainly for immigrants. Since I am in Malaysia, I distribute Halal food all over Southeast Asia, where Halal certification is a must. If a product doesn't have it, nobody will buy it. There is a pretty high demand that is not going drop but increase.”

LYNN BARLOW

Key Account Manager, Retail Uhrenholt
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

“The Halal market in Egypt is very good. Most of the food in Egypt is Halal, though not all. We can find almost everything needed at MIHAS.”

Ahmed Abdelghafar Awad (left)

Import & Export Department Manager
Al-Hamd Import & Export Co
Cairo, Egypt

“As Burkina Faso used to be part of France, we expect all food labels to be translated into French. Catalogues need to be in French as well, especially for special products which contain ingredients and technical stuff that must be well-understood.”

Ouedraogo Alidou

Director General
Groupe Genetra
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“All food categories are doing very badly in Japan. Fruits and fruit products are doing slightly better. Bananas, pineapples and other citrus fruits are moving in higher volumes. But as the market shrinks, it is easier to survive in niche markets. As importers, we have to consider how to sell these products and bring in something different from others. Products should have attractive presentation too. ”

Akira Iriyama

Senior Manager, Planning & Development Section,
Provision Division Showa Boeki Co Ltd
Osaka, Japan

“In terms of sauces, chilli and tomato sauce are the most popular in Yemen. Energy drinks like Red Bull are very popular too and this says something about the quality of products these consumers look for. We source our Halal products mostly from Malaysia, Indonesia and some Indian-Muslim companies.”

Waddah Abdulaziz (right)

Sales Manager
Abdulaziz Mohammed Saif, For Import, General Trading & Agencies
Yemen, UAE

“The Halal market is not very well established in Australia. There is a new and emerging Islamic culture but it has yet to make it big in the market. Most local Australians don’t really understand what Halal is, just as they are unfamiliar with Kosher, Vietnamese or any ethnic food. It is being developed but not something in the mainstream market yet.”

Jeff & Corinna Pinnock

AustMac Trading International
New South Wales, Australia

“It’s my first time to MIHAS. So far, everywhere else, it has been easy to find everything in Halal. There is definitely a potential market for Halal food in Hong Kong.”

Nassera Lacarne

Nassy’s Hong Kong

“The Halal market is a small kind of business that is not for the mainstream. In the US, those who cannot find Halal food will turn to Kosher alternatives. They think both involve the same processes in making clean food.

I have no idea by how much, but this market will grow. Some mainstream Americans do not want to be associated with Halal food unless they have been influenced by the Islamic culture or well educated about it and this is the minority. Even though Halal food means it is more strictly controlled and healthier, not many non-Muslims understand it.”

Nercy Manzoor

President & CEO
Western Gourmet Foods California, US

“My organisation promotes Halal food in Italy. It is called Halal Italia, for which I am president. There are two million Muslims in Italy and this is an expanding market at the moment. However, there is no certification or accreditation body in Italy which is well recognised globally. I always recommend my members to get their certification in Singapore or Malaysia.”

Anna Maria Tiozzo

General Manager, WHAD