Raison D. Arobinto / Halal Section / DTI-Export Marketing Bureau
31 January 2018
Published also in Business Mirror
AS part of the implementation of the Philippine Halal Development and Promotion Program under Republic Act (RA) 10817, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) will be conducting a Halal Awareness Seminar and Consultation with Mindanao halal stakeholders.
The DTI-EMB, as the secretariat of the Philippine Halal Export Board, will conduct the activity to lay out the strategic plan for Philippine exports of halal products and services at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City on February 1.
The activity will be in time for the inaugural launch of AirAsia’s flight from Davao City to Kuala Lumpur and vice-versa. The EMB is taking this opportunity to invite Mindanao micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with halal-certified products and services, to present and offer their products to Air Asia since the company is scouting for potential products and services.
The EMB encourages Mindanao MSMEs to bring product samples during the seminar for a product showcase with participants, including Air Asia.
As part of the Halal Awareness Seminar, the EMB will also present, for consultation, the draft of the Philippine Halal Development and Promotion Program Strategic Plan, and how the halal programs of the different government agencies will fit in, particularly the Muslim-friendly tourism program. This program will be initiated by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the other government agencies, including the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Department of Agriculture, the Mindanao Development Authority, the Department of Science and Technology, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the Davao City Halal Development Council.
With the formulation for the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion strategic plan under RA 10817, the Philippines is seen to achieve its objectives to promote the growth and ensure the integrity and quality of Philippine halal exports.
The activity would provide an opportunity for MSMEs based in Davao and nearby regions to participate in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas 2018), which will be held from April 2-9, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In particular, the activity aims to achieve the following objectives:
To promote market awareness of the Philippines as a supplier of quality halal-certified products, thus promoting also Muslim-friendly tourism in the Philippines, not only for the Malaysian consumers and travelers (tourists) but also to other Muslim markets.
To explore possible tie-ups and deepen areas of cooperation between the PHilippine Halal Export Program and the services that can be offered by AirAsia Philippines.
To support Philippine small and medium processors and suppliers—particularly those based in Mindanao—in taking advantage of the direct flight serviced by Air Asia from Davao City to Kuala Lumpur and vice-versa, in the growing global demand for halal products through the Malaysian gateway.
To promote MSMEs in Mindanao to introduce their products through Air Asia as a venue to eventually penetrate the Malaysian market for halal-food products.
To increase the participation of MSMEs to Mihas 2018.
The event will feature a total of 200 participants composed of various halal stakeholders, many from Mindanao areas. Apart from Mindanao MSMEs, DTI Regional Offices in Mindanao, representatives from other government agencies, academe, halal certifiers, consumer groups and Muslim religious groups are expected to attend the event.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, co-founder and Group CEO of the AirAsia Group; Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairwoman of AirAsia X; Charles Jose, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia; some Davao government officials, and other personalities are expected to be present in the event.