The Philippines reaped over $42 million in export sales and investment leads from more than 300 foreign buyers following its participation in the world’s largest halal trade show.
Headed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 24 local food and nonfood firms participated at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) in April. They exhibited halal certified products and promoted some of the country’s tourism destinations under a unified national pavilion.
The Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone bagged a total of $30.15 million of investment leads at the expo, while halal goods and services generated $11.93 million in sales.
Under the Philippine pavilion, the best sellers were cassava chips, coconut water, virgin coconut oil, turmeric brew and canned tuna. For nonfood products, whitening soaps and perfumes topped the bill.
DTI’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, in a news statement issued on Tuesday, shared the Philippines’s successful return from the halal trade show.
“We have been successful in our return to showcase our premier halal certified products and make a statement that our country is ready to meet the demands of the growing global halal market. The Philippines is the most visited country pavilion in Mihas 2019, according to the organizers of Mihas, and was even visited by King of Malaysia Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah,” Suaco-Juan said.
“Eleven out of 24 companies have participated in the event for the first time, [and they form] part of our mission to capacitate new Philippine companies for the export halal market,” she added.
The new Mihas participants were Aliments Makkhan Bistro and Café; Baker’s Field Enterprises; B&C Healthy Snack Foods Inc.; Cassava Growers and Processors Association; EJT Food Products; Gee’s Agri Coco Products; and General Nutrifoods Philippines Inc. They were joined by their fellow rookie entrants Herbio Agrinature Processing Center; Mira’s Turmeric Products; Permex Producer and Exporter Corp.; and RK Trading and Services.
On the other hand, returning firms were Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing Corp.; Alter Trade Corp.; Asian Halal Center; Castillejos Agri-Farms Inc.; Central Affirmative Co. Inc.; C&H Cosmetics Industry; Fruits of Life Inc.; Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines Inc.; Magic Melt Foods Inc.; MFP Home of Quality Products; Psalmstre Enterprise Inc.; Stalder Laboratories Inc.; and Wellness Care International Corp.
Mihas is considered the world’s largest halal expo. It provides networking and business opportunities for halal manufacturers and buyers.
In 2017 it was attended by over 22,000 trade visitors from more than 70 countries, and generated an all-time high sales of about $241.71 million for 600 exhibitors.
The DTI is eyeing to boost exports of halal products by 6 percent to 8 percent this year to about $605 million, as it heightens promotion efforts to gain the Philippines a respectable share in the $3.2 trillion global halal market. Last year halal exports amounted to around $560 million, of which 90 percent were food and nonalcoholic beverages.
Manila’s halal shipments also include soap and detergents, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
As of April, the Philippines has over 1,000 halal certified products, according to the DTI. Suaco-Juan said this is the reason the government will put up a halal pavilion in the upcoming International Food Exhibition (Ifex) Philippines to provide halal manufacturers the space to showcase their goods at the country’s largest export oriented food show. Ifex Philippines 2019, which will take place on May 24 to May 26, will feature latest food innovations, trends and best practices in the Asian food industry.