Thailand eyes to be top five exporters of halal products

BANGKOK, September 4 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry organised the seminar on "Thailand: World Halal Best Choice" to enhance the competitiveness of Thai halal product manufacturers and halal service providers to develop the country as one of the world's top five halal product exporters within 2020. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, said that the ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand jointly hosted the seminar to boost the joint efforts of the government and the private sector to promote Thai halal products internationally and over 300 Thai halal producers and exporters attended the event. Demands for halal products and services were rising fast in accordance with the growing population of worldwide Muslims, she said. The Muslim population is expected to increase from 1.7 billion at present to 2.8 billion in 35 years. The economic growth of their countries meant business opportunities for global businesspeople, Ms Chutima said. In 2014, Thailand exported halal foods worth about US$6 billion to Muslim majority countries. The value rose by 12.5% from 2013. Important exports were rice, sugar, and canned and processed seafood and fruits. Apart from the "Thailand: World Halal Best Choice" seminar, the Department of International Trade Promotion was conducting local and overseas marketing campaigns to promote Thai halal products to make the country one of the world's top five halal product exporters within 2020, Ms Chutima said. (TNA)