This as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has reportedly held initial talks with officials of Brunei and Kuwait to discuss investment opportunities in the P3.04-billion "halal" hub being proposed by the Davao City Government.
The proposal, initiated by Councilor Peter Laviña, was sent to the Sultan of Brunei, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in February 22, 2007, offering Davao City as the site for this investment.
The city's excellent supply for halal meat products, being free from avian flu and the existence of Halal Food Council were cited in the proposal as main reasons for the city to be considered.
Laviña said Thursday that he furnished Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap with the proposal.
"I am glad that his office is pursuing the plan for the halal food processing center here in Davao," he said.
Reports from a national business paper said: "the government is offering foreign investors an investment proposal worth P3.04 billion to develop the domestic halal industry in Mindanao and enable local manufacturers to corner a chunk of the $500-billion world market".
"The Halal Food Industry Economic Hub project includes the Halal Economic Zone in Davao City and a halal model poultry farm in Cagayan de Oro City," the report stated.
The proposed Halal Economic Zone in Davao City, which will cost at least P2.2 billion to establish, is the core of the halal investment portfolio being offered to investors. (GLP)
