RP to participate in World Halal Expo
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/07/2008 1:59 PM
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The Philippines will participate in the World Halal Expo in United Arab Emirates next week, the Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The DA is sending nine companies to the expo where Philippine-made agricultural and livestock products will be featured and sold.
On board the trade mission are AgriNurture Inc., Beaches Farms and Trading Corp., C’Est La Vie Food Phil. Inc., Florence Foods Corp., Guaranfood Manufacturing, Q-Phil Products International, RFM Corp., Sr. Pedro Lechon Manok and Visayas Chamber of Mango Industry MPC.
"This trade fair can serve as the country's gateway to the over $500 billion global Halal market," said DA secretary Arthur Yap.
DA undersecretary Clayton Olalia, on the other hand, said the booming economies in the Middle East are offering great opportunities for Filipino producers and exporters of Halal food items.
Last year, the Middle East posted a 25-percent increase in food consumption to $20 billion from only $16 billion in the year before.
"The population in the Middle East is increasing at a breakneck speed and the tourism sector is attracting an escalating number of people to the country every year at an annual growth rate of 6.7 percent," Olalia noted.
