Philippines & Brunei To Share Info On Halal Industry

The Philippines and Brunei are intensifying their collaboration on the enhancement of halal product production, as confirmed by Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri late Tuesday.

After a meeting with Brunei’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Megawati Manan, Zubiri highlighted the importance of refining the Philippines’ halal certification system to better cater to Muslim Filipinos. He emphasized the rising popularity of halal products among Filipinos due to their safety, health benefits, and quality, beyond just religious significance.

“There’s a pressing need to synchronize the halal certification processes across Philippine governmental departments,” Mr. Zubiri pointed out.

Furthermore, he suggested a potential agricultural collaboration, indicating that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) might work alongside Brunei in rice production ventures.

On August 10, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) solidified a partnership with the Bangsamoro region to further the halal business sector there.

During the partnership’s inauguration, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual highlighted the lucrative prospects in the global halal food industry, valued at $2.3 trillion, projected to surge to $3.4 trillion next year. Pascual noted that even a minimal share in this expansive market could significantly propel the Philippine economy forward.

Earlier this year, the DTI spotlighted the potential of halal products to offer expansive opportunities for micro to medium-sized businesses. Additionally, in a recent engagement, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. explored enhancing halal industry ties between the Philippines and Malaysia in talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.