Indonesia asked to export more 'halal' food items

Indonesia asked to export more 'halal' food items

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, which has introduced halal (permitted by Islamic law) labeling on processed food products, could tap into the increasing global halal food market, an expert said.

Mohamed Jafri, a consultant to the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told journalists here on Thursday that annual trading of halal foods across the globe is increasing, reaching US80.7 billion per annum.

Of the total trading, West Asian countries, with a total Moslem population of 134.52 million people, are the largest importers of halal food, totaling $13.2 billion annually. North African countries with 228.40 million Moslems import $12.3 billion, while the Indian subcontinent with 405.14 million Moslems only imports $5.79 billion.

Indonesia's exports of processed foods during the January- October period of last year increased by 15.29 percent to $656.3 million from the corresponding period of 1993.

Jafri also invited Indonesia's Moslem scholars to take a leading role in promoting international halal labeling and contribute towards the standardization of international halal labeling because there are some countries which have their own special requirements for the labeling.

Jafri was here to promote the third International Moslem Food Exhibition 1995 to be held in Singapore's World Trade Center from Aug. 16 through 19.

He said the halal food exhibition, organized by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is designed to promote halal food on the global market.

The chamber, which was incorporated in 1956, was formed by a group of Malay Moslem businessmen with the aim of safeguarding the interests of their fellow business communities.

"If international awareness and understanding towards the importance of halal foods to Moslems is already strong, major food manufacturers in the world would be tempted to relocate their food processing facilities into Moslem countries, including Indonesia," Jafri said.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the chamber will also organize an international halal food conference to create an awareness of halal food and to provide insight into business opportunities available in the halal food industry.

The chamber will also conduct a food galore exhibition which will present halal cuisines from different Moslem countries. (rid)