MIPR-Led Delegation Joins Sihas
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ten local companies, led by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, exhibited their products during the Singapore International Halal Showcase (Sihas) 2008 at Singapore Expo in an effort to penetrate the lucrative halal food industry.

The Sihas 2008 runs from January 24 to January 27.

To showcase the Asian halal industry, one of the highlights of the event is the exhibition booth, which displays over 200 halal products from China, India, and Middle East and Asean countries, including Brunei.

Singapore Minister-In-Charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, during the opening ceremony, said Singapore's halal industry is expanding, with more than 8,000 halal certificates issued by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) last year, up from 7,200 in the previous year.

He said besides food, the halal certified products have extended to health supplements, cleansing agents and traditional Chinese medicine.

"Halal certification not only widens market shares of companies locally, but also extends their reach to bigger markets overseas.

"An example is homegrown company Thong Siek Food Industry, which distributes its halal-certified seafood products not only locally, but also nine other countries, including Australia, Brunei and South Africa," he said.

He said with the formal recognition of the Singapore halal certification granted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2006, it has been easier for Singapore's food exports to make their way to the Middle East.

Head of Muis Halal Certification Strategic Unit Dewi Suratty attributed the growth of halal food industry in Singapore to the greater awareness of the economic potential of the halal market.

Meanwhile, the Sihas 2008, hosted by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is held for the first time in Singapore. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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