Turkish appetite for halal increases
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Selma Bektaş - Referans
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 08, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - A big halal products importer, Turkey has still not been able to take a constructive step in issuance of halal certificates. Halalist Expo 2009 is a step toward playing a key role in dispensing information in halal certificates and will provid a platform to seal business deals worth $5 million
Turkey has grown quite an appetite for the halal products market, which has a global volume of $1.2 trillion.
The world’s newest halal industry show Halalist Expo 2009, which will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center between Aug. 13 and 16, will provide a meeting ground for national and international exhibitors.
Key players of the world’s halal industry, such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Brazil, France, Germany will gather in Istanbul.
Turkey has not been able to benefit from the halal product market as much as it should have, according to Salim Şahin, general manager of Atılım Fuarcılık, the organizer of the event. "In the short term we aim to establish business connections worth $5 million via this fair. In the long term we aim to open a door for Turkey to own a $5 million share in the global halal market."
"Halal" is an Arabic term referring to Islamic law and customs, while halal food refers to food permissible according to Islam. Data shows nearly 70 percent of Muslims worldwide follow halal food standards.
Halal market for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals grow
The market is assumed to have a consumer population of 2 billion and an annual volume of $2.1 trillion. Food industry takes the biggest share in the halal market. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries have been increasing their share in the market.
The halal market in Turkey has also been growing day by day. The country imports halal products, including food, beverage, machinery, textile, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics every year.
"However, in spite of the growing figures, Turkey still has not made a move toward an official halal certificate," said Şahin. Therefore the Turkish market is wide open to international exporters, according to an article on the Halalist Expo 2009 Web site.
There has been high interest in the event from abroad, said Şahin, adding that more than 150 companies from 20 countries are expected to participate. "Brazil, which is a leading player in the market, will participate in the event to protect its share in the global halal market," said Şahin.
"Some 80 percent of the fair will consist of nutritional products. However, other industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals have advanced quite a bit. Non-interest banking institutes, as well as hotels specifically aimed at serving conservative Muslims, will also take part in the fair," Şahin said.
Halal tooth paste producer Mu’min and U.S.-based vitamin producer Herbal Pharma will also be among the companies at the expo.
The halal products expo is the fruit of a request Turkish Atılım Fuarcılık, which is involved in organizing fairs abroad, received from its partner in Dubai.
"When we received the request we looked into the market, and we saw that even the non-Muslim countries have a big share in the global halal products market," said Şahin. " For example, every year, Brazil exports halal meat worth $6.5 billion to Muslim countries. Meanwhile Turkey is still deprived from the opportunities this market bears because it still has not issued halal certificates."
This issue has been in the country’s agenda for the past couple of years. Turkish Standards Institution, or TSE, launched a certificate issue about three years ago but the project was halted.
Issuance of certificates for halal products
Some 12 countries, including Canada, Brazil and the United States, have issued halal certificates. Food fairs in France and Germany also include stands for halal food products.
With its current production conditions, Turkey could easily get a decent share in the halal products market, said Şahin. "However the country never attached much importance to this market. Therefore, although it has no official validity, many local companies apply to Muftis or issue their own certificates," he said. "Seminars on the halal certificate will be a part of the fair.
"We did not make an official request, however we would like Nestle and KFC to sponsor this event," said Şahin, adding that these two companies also have sponsored the Dubai and Malesia halal product fairs.
The world’s newest halal industry show Halalist Expo 2009, which will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center between Aug. 13 and 16, will provide a meeting ground for national and international exhibitors.
Key players of the world’s halal industry, such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Brazil, France, Germany will gather in Istanbul.
Turkey has not been able to benefit from the halal product market as much as it should have, according to Salim Şahin, general manager of Atılım Fuarcılık, the organizer of the event. "In the short term we aim to establish business connections worth $5 million via this fair. In the long term we aim to open a door for Turkey to own a $5 million share in the global halal market."
"Halal" is an Arabic term referring to Islamic law and customs, while halal food refers to food permissible according to Islam. Data shows nearly 70 percent of Muslims worldwide follow halal food standards.
Halal market for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals grow
The market is assumed to have a consumer population of 2 billion and an annual volume of $2.1 trillion. Food industry takes the biggest share in the halal market. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries have been increasing their share in the market.
The halal market in Turkey has also been growing day by day. The country imports halal products, including food, beverage, machinery, textile, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics every year.
"However, in spite of the growing figures, Turkey still has not made a move toward an official halal certificate," said Şahin. Therefore the Turkish market is wide open to international exporters, according to an article on the Halalist Expo 2009 Web site.
There has been high interest in the event from abroad, said Şahin, adding that more than 150 companies from 20 countries are expected to participate. "Brazil, which is a leading player in the market, will participate in the event to protect its share in the global halal market," said Şahin.
"Some 80 percent of the fair will consist of nutritional products. However, other industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals have advanced quite a bit. Non-interest banking institutes, as well as hotels specifically aimed at serving conservative Muslims, will also take part in the fair," Şahin said.
Halal tooth paste producer Mu’min and U.S.-based vitamin producer Herbal Pharma will also be among the companies at the expo.
The halal products expo is the fruit of a request Turkish Atılım Fuarcılık, which is involved in organizing fairs abroad, received from its partner in Dubai.
"When we received the request we looked into the market, and we saw that even the non-Muslim countries have a big share in the global halal products market," said Şahin. " For example, every year, Brazil exports halal meat worth $6.5 billion to Muslim countries. Meanwhile Turkey is still deprived from the opportunities this market bears because it still has not issued halal certificates."
This issue has been in the country’s agenda for the past couple of years. Turkish Standards Institution, or TSE, launched a certificate issue about three years ago but the project was halted.
Issuance of certificates for halal products
Some 12 countries, including Canada, Brazil and the United States, have issued halal certificates. Food fairs in France and Germany also include stands for halal food products.
With its current production conditions, Turkey could easily get a decent share in the halal products market, said Şahin. "However the country never attached much importance to this market. Therefore, although it has no official validity, many local companies apply to Muftis or issue their own certificates," he said. "Seminars on the halal certificate will be a part of the fair.
"We did not make an official request, however we would like Nestle and KFC to sponsor this event," said Şahin, adding that these two companies also have sponsored the Dubai and Malesia halal product fairs.