VIETNAM AIMS TO BOOST DIPLOMACY WITH MUSLIM WORLD BY DEVELOPING HALAL FOOD ECONOMY

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Vietnam is pursuing a dual strategy to develop its halal economy by becoming a significant producer and exporter of halal products while strengthening its diplomatic ties with the global Muslim community.

Its capital, Hanoi, hosted the maiden high-profile national halal conference themed "Fostering International Cooperation and Mobilising Internal Resources to Develop Vietnam’s Halal Industry” on Tuesday to express Vietnam’s commitment to the Muslim world of its intentions, reported Vietnam News.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh told international participants at the conference that the government attached great importance to the development of the halal sector and identified this as a new direction in production activities.

"We consider the development of the halal market as an important economic cooperation, a new pillar, a new driving force in developing relations with countries, especially Muslim countries and communities around the world.

"We consider this a golden opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to improve production capacity and strengthen cooperation with partners to effectively participate in the halal market and the global halal value chain,” Vietnam News quoted the premier.

Strategically located in Southeast Asia, neighbouring Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, where there is sizeable demand for halal food and services, Vietnam could exploit these advantages, say industry experts.

Being a strong agrarian-based economy that is heavily dependent on export markets driven by its farm produce and livestock, gives Vietnamese exporters another added advantage to venture into the halal segment.

Vietnam’s export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is forecast to reach US$54 billion this year.

There are about 90,000 Muslims in the country.

“Vietnam is telling the world that it is ready to participate in the halal economy. It will (adhere) to compliances and standards, and develop human capital for the halal sector. 

“It is targeting Muslim and non-Muslim markets. They already have about 1,000 halal products that are exported to ASEAN countries,” Hanoi-based Ramlan Osman, director of Halcert Authority under the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, told Bernama in a phone interview. 

Halcert signed memorandums of understanding with four foreign certifications agencies – GAE Resources Malaysia Sdn Bhd, as strategic partner of  Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Korea Halal Agency, MUIS Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) and European Certification Centre – to collaborate on training, partnership and mutual recognition.

-- BERNAMA