PAKISTAN AND MALAYSIA CAN VIE FOR WORLD HALAL MARKET

By Sajad Hussein

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Pakistan can join forces to
gain a bigger share of the world halal market, chief executive of the
Pakistan Trade Development Authority, Syed Mohibullah Shah, said Monday.

Malaysia's strong point was its expertise in halal food technology and
certification while Pakistan could contribute in terms of raw materials like
meat, milk, poultry and food grains, he told Bernama in a faxed message from
Karachi.

He said the world halal food market was estimated to be worth US$632 billion
and growing at an annual rate of 20 percent due to the rising prosperity among
Muslim countries.

He added that at present, 85 percent of halal food was being manufactured by
non-Muslims, "thus requiring Pakistan to join forces with Malaysia to enter the
market in a big way to gain a rightful share".

Syed Mohibullah said Pakistan would be organising the Global Halal Expo and
Congress next year and hoped Malaysia would fully support the event.
-- BERNAMA