(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Zamboanga Economic Zone (ZAMBOECOZONE), in partnership with the Southeast Asian country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Local Government Units of Zamboanga City recently held a ground breaking ceremony of the Asian Halal Center.
The 100-hectare area aims to be the center of Halal industries in the Philippines and in the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines: East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.
"Mindanao is positioned to be the manufacturing base for export-quality Halal products in the country. With Asian Halal Center, we expect to attract more locators and enhance our country’s position as the Halal industrial hub in the region,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
The Asian Halal Center is expected to be a home for the production and processing of halal goods for the Islam-dominant region and is targeting small and medium scale locators that will cater to the estimated $2.6 trillion global Halal market. At present, the center expects to locate 14 prospective locators that will lease the center’s facilities.
"The growing Halal market worldwide is a potential sector especially for our micro and small entrepreneurs. In the Philippines alone, we have an estimated population of 9.62 million Filipino Muslim. We need to urge them to seize this opportunity and tap the growing sector,” emphasized DTI Industry Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
According to a report on the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2014-2015 published by Thomson Reuters, total Halal food market reached $1,292 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow by $2,536 billion in 2019 with 12% CAGR Growth (2013-2019).
Halal is an Islamic term that means permitted, allowed or lawful. At present, Halal is used in relation to food and other consumer goods that have undergone certification as permissible for consumption and use by Muslims.
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