Halal Brazil Project Ignites Interest in Jundiaí Firms

São Paulo — The Halal Brazil Project has piqued the interest of companies in Jundiaí, São Paulo, who are keen to tap into the burgeoning halal market. This initiative aims to educate and support businesses in understanding halal certification and market demands.

Halal Certification and Trade Opportunities

An informative session was hosted by the Center of Industries of the State of São Paulo (CIESP) in Jundiaí. Business leaders and executives convened to explore the potential of supplying halal products – goods that are permissible according to Islamic law, to a global audience.

Data from Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services reveals that Jundiaí’s exports, which include machinery, plastics, foods, and other items, totaled US$ 709 million last year, marking an 18% growth from 2021. Notably, Muslim countries do not feature prominently among the top importers of goods from Jundiaí. The Halal Brazil Project, orchestrated by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), intends to bridge this gap by introducing 500 Brazilian companies to the halal market, with an emphasis on value-added foods.

Exploring Halal Market Demands

Among the attendees, Quinta Semente’s co-founder, Renato Masini, expressed interest in understanding the consumption patterns and needs within the halal market. The company, known for importing and distributing dried fruits and nuts, considers diversification into halal products as a viable opportunity.

Similarly, Castelo Foreign Trade’s coordinator, Milene Vieira da Silva, conveyed Castelo’s intention to assess which product lines could potentially obtain halal certification. Castelo is renowned for vinegar but also produces a wide array of products ranging from dressings to pickled vegetables.

Halal Brazil Project: A Three-Phased Approach

Fernanda Dantas, ABCC Internationalization Projects Manager, elucidated the Halal Brazil Project’s three-fold strategy: creating awareness about halal products, providing targeted online training for halal certification, and promoting commercial participation through international trade shows and missions. Companies can avail themselves of financial support covering up to 50% of the costs associated with obtaining halal certification.

Read this: Registering Certifiers for the Halal Brazil Project

The project, with an investment of BRL 15.4 million (USD 3.2 million), is slated to run until 2025, focusing on priority markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, and Germany.

Encouragement from Local Authorities

Jundiaí’s municipality representatives, including Economic Development, Science and Technology manager Cristiano Lopes, encouraged local entrepreneurs to consider exporting to diversify and strengthen their business operations. Moreover, CIESP-Jundiaí director Manoel Flores emphasized the significance of allocating a portion of production output for exports.

Participants at the CIESP meeting received insights on halal product requirements, consumer trends in Muslim countries, and success stories of companies already thriving in the halal market.

In summation, the Halal Brazil Project poses as an essential catalyst for Brazilian companies, particularly in Jundiaí, to explore and establish a presence within the lucrative global halal market.