To showcase Halal-certified and Halal-ready products from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the 10th Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Expo opened on Wednesday.
Anchored on the theme “Showcasing diverse halal ready and friendly market of all regions to international arena,” various exhibitors from different parts of the region showcased their halal-certified and halal-ready products varying from food and non-food items.
The Halal Trade and Tourism Expo will run from June 18–20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center.
Marilou Ampuan, Founding President of the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Advocacy Inc., said in an interview with the City Information Office, that the trade and tourism expo aims to showcase and help MSMEs promote their halal certified and halal ready products to the global market.
“Karon ania ta, Muslim and non-Muslim, nga nagapaabot sa atoang industry nga we are actually ready na po sa Halal market (We’re here, both Muslim and non-Muslim, as a testament that we are ready for the global halal market),” she said.
Ampuan added that although some MSMEs are yet to be halal certified, their products are halal ready.
“Halal ready na sila. Kinahanglan lang og support nga maging certified sila (Their products are already halal-ready, we just have to provide them more support to be certified),” she said.
During the three-day expo, free Halal medical check-ups and medicines are offered to the public in partnership with the Department of Health Region XI.
A Global Halal Academic Forum is also offered during the event in coordination with local universities and the University of Malaysia and Singapore.
Ampuan said the forum aims to ensure that the Halal practice is being embraced at the level of the academe.
She also extended her gratitude to the City Government of Davao and Mayor Sebastian Duterte for the consistent support to their advocacy of positioning Davao City’s Halal Industry in the global market.
“Without the support from the local government, dili gyud namo maabot nga ing-ani ka successful amoang advocacy (Without the local government’s support, we wouldn’t achieve this success in our advocacy),” Ampuan said.
“With the help of the city government, naga-position na gyud ta sa Halal Market. In fact, si Davao City ang gina-benchmark po sa neighboring regions [in terms of Halal] (With the help of the city government, we are positioning our halal industry in the Halal Market. In fact, conduct benchmarking activities in the city’s halal industry),” she furthered.
The City Government of Davao continues to create programs and projects that will not only help promote and support the city’s MSMEs but to also ensure a sustainable Halal industry that will benefit the city and every Dabawenyo. CIO
