Thailand reveals 'halal' hub plans

Tue, 25 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB | Source: DPA

BANGKOK: In a bid to increase its share of the world's US$80-
billion halal food market, Thailand will next year launch its
first industrial estate for halal food production in the southern
province of Pattani, a senior minister said on Monday.

Thai Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak revealed Thailand's
halal ambitions in an opening address to the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) Task Force on Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (SMEs) being hosted by Bangkok from Monday to
Wednesday.

Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country, has been an
observer member of the OIC since 1998. The OIC includes 57
Islamic countries.

Thailand's three southernmost provinces - Narathiwat, Pattani
and Yala - have majority Muslim populations and therefore are at
the center of Thailand's halal food ambitions, Somkid said. --
DPA

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