Halal Expo gives consumers range of choices

Dubai: The third annual Halal Expo, an exhibition of the halal industry in the region, opened Tuesday at the Madinat Jumeirah.

The event hosts more than 80 global companies and international exhibitors representing 200 brands from 22 countries, and is expected to attract about 4,000 visitors during its three-day run.

This year the exhibition aims to serve as a platform to strengthen the presence of halal products in the global catering, hospitality, food and beverage, health and pharmaceutical industries.

With recent studies showing the number of halal consumers worldwide has reached 1.8 billion and annual sales have hit $580 billion (Dh2.1 billion), halal-product exporters and manufacturers from across the globe have identified the extensive opportunity in participating in this year's Halal Expo.

Top companies

Among the top global companies present are halal food manufacturers Amadeh Laziz (Iran) and Khazan (UAE), and beef producers Real Food Company Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and JES (Japan), which is highlighting its top quality Wagyu products. Other participating companies are from Argentina, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the US and UK.

"Through the years, Halal Expo has played an important role in bringing together leading manufacturers and buyers to encourage halal trade.

"However, this year's event holds a significant importance given the current economic situation and the outstanding potential of this market to grow further as a major income-generating industry for halal goods-producing countries," said Raees Ahmad, Director, Orange Fairs & Events.

"With the wide array of world-class products and services on display, it is clear that the market continues to mature, and I am confident that Halal Expo 2009 will catalyse a number of important partnerships and deals which will boost this year's halal trade across the continents," Ahmad added.

Halal Expo 2009 features Sharia compliant products, with the launch of halal logistics by MISC, one of the world's top five shipping companies.