Halal conference to guide Brunei SMEs into export markets

BRUNEI'S 4th International Halal Market Conference organising committee is holding a workshop to help small business in the Sultanate expedite their entry into export markets for halal products.

The strategy for this year's conference slated for August will be to hold a workshop before the conference to discuss issues and gather feedback from potential and existing halal exporters, said Effandi Hj Salleh, head of the entrepreneurial development centre of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and a member of the organising committee of the upcoming international halal conference. The workshop should help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) familiarise themselves with what needs to be done to finally start exporting.

The Brunei Times could not independently verify whether there has been a significant number of Bruneian SMEs that have succeeded in penetrating export markets for halal products as a result of the first three halal market conferences.

"I have spoken to our permanent secretary and he said that July will be fine to have the workshop with the SMEs," said Effandi. "We are narrowing the workshops down to 30-35 potential and existing exporters in the food industry."

This year's conference is themed "Halal Industry: Engine of Economic Growth and Opportunity". Effandi said that as the interest in halal products continues to grow, so does the implementation of newly developed standards, commercialisation and international joint ventures.

The conference will aim to showcase the advances and opportunities that make up Brunei's halal agenda and to share views, knowledge and expertise through discussions based on various topics relating to halal business ventures.

Conference sessions will tackle, among others, Brunei's role in the global halal market, developing infrastructure for the halal industry and halal guidelines for the pharmaceutical sector. The Brunei Times