The success of Halal World Expo, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, predicts even greater growth for this fast growing global industry sector.

GCC and UAE visitors came to the most comprehensive Halal exhibition, organised by IIR Middle East, to learn about the latest Halal products on the market, Shari’ah compliant foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fashion and Islamic finance, said an official spokesman.

“The Halal food market currently accounts for as much as 12 per cent of the global trade in food products,” said exhibition director for Halal World Expo Christine Weaver.

“The Muslim population is projected to constitute 30 per cent of the world's population by 2025, meaning Halal food could easily account for 20 per cent of world trade in food products in the future,” added Weaver.

“Halal related businesses want to be a part of this growth, no matter where they are from. Exhibiting at Halal World Expo meant they were able to promote their products to the growing Halal-consuming population,” said Weaver.

Companies showcased new products, some for the first time in the UAE and the Middle East, such as ‘NONIONS’, supplied by All Needs General Trading, a UAE based importer/ exporter.

“We took advantage of Halal World Expo to meet new colleagues in the industry and to educate them about the advantages, quality and convenience of ‘NONIONS’, a sautéed onion pulpy paste which is ready to use and stores and cooks easily,” said director of All Needs General Trading Ashwin Ruchani.

Other products and services at the exhibition included UK-based Tahira Halal foods which displayed a diverse range of goods from frozen spring rolls to sardines, and UAE company, The Halal Exchange, providing international trade software which simplifies global trade for the Halal marketplace.

Halal World Expo also featured Shari’ah compliant fashion, cosmetics and healthcare products, as the demand for Halal certified items continues to grow in the UAE. 

The exhibition also focuses on the Islamic finance sector, which is currently worth between $200 and $500 billion annually and continues to be a consistently growing interest for financial markets across the world.

The Global Halal and Islamic Business Forum, which ran alongside the Halal World Expo in Abu Dhabi, held a post-forum workshop on the last day, addressing in detail the challenges, issues and trends when marketing Halal and Islamic products in Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

The exhibition is set to become an annual landmark event opening the gateway for the Middle East market to the international Halal industry. – TradeArabia News Service