Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - The 3rd International Halal Market Conference (IHMC) ended yesterday with a unanimous support for the establishment of the Halal Product Academyin Brunei.

Speaking at a press conference for the closing of the IHMC and International Halal Product Expo (IHPE), Dr Hj Abdalhamid David Evans, said that the participants of the conference who consisted of high-level speakers and experts from various countries and established companies in the halal industry, unanimously approved of Brunei's initiative to set up the institution.

The conference's consultant noted Brunei's pro-active approach to the idea of the academy. "I am optimistic with the outcome of this," he said. "It would give Brunei the leadership role in providing the knowledge and service in the halal market."

However, it is "too early" to say about the proper

time frame for the implementation of the project, he added.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab, had earlier said during an opening ceremony of the conference that the Halal Product Academy "is an idea of an institution that will provide a platform for an ongoing collaborative relationship between Ulama, scientists and industry specialists to guide and steer the development of the market through some of the more complex issues that have arisen, and others which will surely arise in the future".

The two- day conference culminated in an open panel session with representatives from the Mufti's Department, scientists, ulama and halal industry experts which focused on current issues of interest and concern within the halal market.

During the session, several experts as well as members of the audience had also voiced their recommendations for the establishment of the Halal Product Academy.

Advice and suggestions from all parts of the halal industry on the Halal Product Academy will be provided in a report which will be given to the ministry. "What they do with it... will be entirely up to them," said Dr Hj Abdalhamid adding that a general feedback on the conference will however, be made available.

The conference was held in conjunction with the IHPE which attracted about 44,000 visitors.

Jason Tee, event manager for the IHPE said that the number was more than last year. "Last year, it was about 34,000," he added.

Also present during the press conference was the Acting Director of Agriculture at MIPR, Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PHJDSM Dato Seri Utama Dr Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, who was pleased with the increased number of participation from the local small and medium enterprises and foreign companies.

The number of international traders at the expo increased by 60 per cent from last year's figure, stated Hjh Asmah Hj Saman as chairperson for the exhibition committee.

The acting director shed light on the ministry's focus to have more "participation of (experts in areas of) Halal IT and Halal logistic" for next year's expo.

With addition to that she also said that information on the progress of Brunei Halal Science Centre will be informed in the near future. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times