THAILAND INVESTS US$337 MILLION TO PROMOTE HALAL PRODUCTS
Bangkok, 10 Jumadil awwal 1435/1 March 2015 (MINA) – Thailand’s government will invest about 10.93 billion baht (US$337.70 million) to promote halal products and become one of the top five halal food and product exporters in the world by 2020, Thai News Agency (TNA) reports.
Arthit Wuthikoro, director-general of Industry Ministry’s Department of Industrial Promotion, said the decision was reached at a committee meeting held here Friday chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Mom Luang Pridiyathorn Devakula.
The government will promote and develop halal cosmetics, pharmaceutical and herbal products to meet international standards, BERNAMA and pattayamail.com quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
Arthit said development of halal food products will be divided into several strategies involving 77 projects.
The strategies range from boosting goods production and services and developing marketing standards to conducting research on halal food.
One of the world’s top halal producers
Thailand is moving closer to becoming one of the world’s top halal producers as the national halal promotion committee has agreed on strategies to promote local halal products within the next five years under a budget of over 10 billion baht.
The Halal Development and Promotion Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula has reconvened for the second time on Friday to consider programs and budgets for the four strategies approved earlier in boosting halal products from 2016 to 2020.
The committee agreed to the plan to set aside 10.93 billion baht for the five-year plan in developing the quality of local halal goods and services, accessing new markets, creating a standardization system and setting up research and development facilities for halal products, especially food. The committee will soon submit the plan to the cabinet for approval prior to implementation.
Currently, Thailand is ranked 13th among the world’s halal producers at an estimated value of 5 billion US dollars, with exports making up 4 billion dollars. (T/R05/P3)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
