Vietnam's First Halal Conf. Stresses Economic, Diplomatic Opportunities

IQNA – Vietnam is working to bolster its diplomatic ties with the global Muslim community by developing its halal economy, aiming to become a major producer and exporter of halal products.

On Tuesday, Hanoi hosted its first national halal conference, titled “Fostering International Cooperation and Mobilising Internal Resources to Develop Vietnam’s Halal Industry.”

The event underscored Vietnam's commitment to the Muslim world and attracted significant international attention. According to Vietnam News, the conference focused on enhancing collaboration and utilizing domestic resources to build a competitive halal sector.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính addressed the participants, emphasizing the government’s prioritization of the halal market.

“We consider the development of the halal market as an important economic cooperation, a new pillar, a new driving force in developing relations with countries, especially Muslim countries and communities around the world," he said, Bernama reported on Wednesday.

Chính also highlighted the potential for Vietnamese businesses to seize this opportunity. “We consider this a golden opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to improve production capacity and strengthen cooperation with partners to effectively participate in the halal market and the global halal value chain,” he added.

Vietnam, positioned in Southeast Asia and bordering Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, is well-placed to tap into the growing demand for halal products. Industry experts believe this geographic advantage, coupled with Vietnam's strong agricultural base, could help the country excel in the halal economy.

Vietnam is expected to export approximately $54 billion worth of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products this year.

Ramlan Osman, director of Halcert Authority under the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, reinforced this outlook. In an interview with Bernama, he noted, “Vietnam is telling the world that it is ready to participate in the halal economy. It will adhere to compliances and standards, and develop human capital for the halal sector.”

He also mentioned that Vietnam already exports around 1,000 halal-certified products to ASEAN countries and is targeting both Muslim and non-Muslim markets.

To further support the development of its halal industry, Halcert has signed memorandums of understanding with four international certification bodies, including GAE Resources Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the Korea Halal Agency, MUIS Singapore, and the European Certification Centre. These agreements aim to enhance collaboration in areas such as training, partnership, and mutual recognition of halal standards.

With approximately 90,000 Muslims living in Vietnam, the country is signaling its readiness to play a significant role in the global halal economy, while deepening its diplomatic relationships with the Muslim world.

Source: Agencies