Philippines to Create 120,000 Jobs in Halal Industry in Five Years

MANILA – The Philippines is aiming to become the “most halal-friendly trade and investment hub in Asia Pacific,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Friday, October 13, 2023.

The DTI is targeting to create 120,000 new jobs in the halal industry in the next five years as part of its Philippine Halal Development Plan. The plan was announced in April this year, in accordance with the Halal Export Development and Promotion Act passed in 2016.

“We are just now implementing it,” DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual told Arab News.

“There are already halal producers in the Philippines but now we want to be able to go global and be able to tap the more than $7 trillion halal market globally.”

The halal market is a global market for products and services that comply with Islamic law. It is estimated to be worth more than $7 trillion, with the halal food and beverage industry contributing a third of it. The market also covers recreation, travel, financial services, fashion, and many other sectors.

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, but it also has a significant Muslim population, estimated at around 10%. The government is hoping to capitalize on the growing halal market by making the country more attractive to halal businesses and investors.

The DTI will lead an inter-agency task force to position the Philippines as the “most halal-friendly trade and investment hub in Asia Pacific.” The task force will include representatives from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Philippine central bank, and the departments of agriculture, tourism, health, science and technology, and foreign affairs.

It will also involve the Mindanao Development Authority — the state agency promoting the welfare and development of the Mindanao region, which is one of the country’s poorest areas and home to the majority of about 7 million Philippine Muslims.

Pascual said that with the new strategy, the Philippines will be able to make the halal sector a major player and tap into foreign markets, making local enterprises “able to participate in the industry and contribute to the economic development of the country, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

Recent developments in the halal industry in the Philippines:

• In August 2023, the Philippines launched its first halal certification body, the Halal Development Institute of the Philippines (HDIP). The HDIP is accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), which is recognized by the Global Accreditation Forum (GAF).
• In September 2023, the Philippines participated in the Halal Expo Malaysia, one of the world’s largest halal trade fairs. The Philippine delegation showcased a wide range of halal products and services, including food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.
• In October 2023, the DTI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to promote cooperation in the halal sector. The IsDB is a multilateral financial institution that provides financing and technical assistance to member countries for development projects.

The Philippines is well-positioned to become a major player in the global halal industry. The country has a large pool of skilled workers and a diversified economy. The government’s new strategy to promote the halal sector is a welcome move and could help to create jobs and boost economic growth.