THE regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiated a training and seminar under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Roving Academy (Smera) in Davao City in a bid to help SMEs have a deeper understanding about the halal industry and its bright prospects.
Dubbed as “Understanding the Different Aspects of Halal” slated on Friday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Magallanes St., Davao City, some 70 SMEs industry players in the food processing sector with the DTI’s trade promotion officers and processed fruits and nuts point persons actively participates in the event.
“Actually, the food processors themselves requested this kind of training. It only proves how they really wanted to tap and seize the opportunities in the Halal industry,” said DTI Davao director Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi.
The seminar focused on the Halal’s global market opportunities and challenges, value chain, business opportunities, Halal’s historical perspectives, Halal in the Asean economic community and the steps on how to secure Halal certification.
“This is a positive indicator because the SMEs wanted to involve themselves with the prospects and opportunities of the Halal industry, they are interested on how to make their businesses a Halal certified establishment,” Ambi said.
Ambi also said that the Halal industry is very lucrative and has a big market which the country needs to take advantage especially with the Asean integration.
Meanwhile, stakeholders working for the promotion and development of halal industry are pushing for every Halal certifier in the country to be accredited abroad to expand the industry's global reach.
Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) director for Investment Promotions, Foreign Relations and Public Affairs said in an earlier report that accrediting the country's Halal certifiers with the international market is one of the major actions pushed by stakeholders.
“We only have a few who are accredited from abroad. The more certifiers being accredited abroad is better for us, because if one is accredited abroad it can penetrate the market where bigger demand for Halal is,” he said.
He cited Islamic Da'Wah Council of the Philippines (IDCP) as a perfect example. IDCP is accredited and recognized in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and all other Arab countries.
Montenegro also said that coordination of the various agencies that are working for Halal development must continue to improve with more effective mechanism and policy for Halal promotion and development.
Asean countries with established Halal industry are Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, among others. (ASP)