News From : DagangHalal.com (10 Jan 2010)
Thai exporters are being urged to tap into China’s expanding Muslim food market.
“China is one of the world’s most eye-catching halal food markets, as Muslims there total more than 30 million, or 2.3% of China’s population,” said Srirat Rastapana, director-general of the Export Promotion Department.
“Demand for halal food is rapidly growing in Ningxia and Gansu provinces and in Inner Mongolia.”
The world’s Muslim population is about two billion or 29% of the total. Muslim consumers total 8 million in North America, 18 million in Europe, and 200 million in Indonesia.
The global halal market was estimated to be worth $547 billion in 2009 and is expected to grow to more than $550 billion in 2010, said Mrs Srirat.
Thailand is the fifth-largest halal food exporter, controlling a 5.6% market share. In 2008, Thai halal exports were worth 5.19 billion baht, up 53.3% from 2007.
The Thai government aims to expand halal food exports by at least 10% a year between 2010 and 2014, helped by new strategies to drive the development of products for Muslim markets.
A panel on halal industry development, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, approved strategies to develop the industry last year. They include meeting world halal standards and conforming to domestic demand, promoting the competitiveness of both entrepreneurs and workers in the industry, increasing Thailand’s capability in certifying food as halal, and expanding markets and upgrading research and development.
The targeted products are vegetables, fruit, fishery and livestock products and tourism and health care services. The strategy calls for the five southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla to become the production base for halal products.
The department will also focus on health by promoting rice, fruit and organic halal food.
It is also poised to support the opening of halal food outlets and non-food business such as halal hotels, halal hospitals and halal logistics services, she said.