BOSNIA SEEKS WHF HELP TO DEVELOP HALAL MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (January 18,2008) – The Bosnian Halal Certification Agency of has requested the World Halal Forum (WHF) to help the country develop its halal market.KasehDia Sdn Bhd founder/managing director, Jumaatun Azmi, said Bosnia offered huge opportunities for Malaysian halal food manufacturers as the country was a net importer of food products.

"Most food processing facilities were destroyed or severely damaged during the war. However, the product quality of the major processors is comparable with many imported products," Jumaatun said at the media briefing on the findings of the WHF industry dialogues held in South Africa, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey and Bosnia.

KasehDia is the organiser of the WHF and Halal Indusry Dialogues.

She said the collaboration with Bosnia through Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme involved the development of human capital competency to facilitate it to be a gateway for Malaysians to tap Europe's halal market.

"We have identified strategic investment opportunities for Malaysian companies there and we saw a huge potential for investment in halal tourism such as in hotels," she said.

Jumaatun said Malaysia was in a leading position to be driving force in global halal trade.

"There are many countries, particularly from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), are looking to Malaysia as a key reference point in terms of halal food standards and international certification," she said.

Jumaatun suggested the International Halal Integrity Alliance, which was initiated at the WHF 2007 to work closely with Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and Halal Industry Development Corp, to export Malaysia's expertise globally, particularly to OIC nations.

The World Halal Forum will be held in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, on May 12-13. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates.