World Halal Forum in Istanbul, Turkey

By : Lokman Ab.Rahman (Bahagian Kemajuan Islam, Jakim)

 

 

Turkey is one of the countries with world's largest non Arab Muslim population, apart from Indonesia. The country’s secular policy does not prevent the development of Islam since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's took the leadership helm in 2003. Although quite late, Turkey has introduced halal certification around 2005. In conjunction with the development of halal certification, the International Conference on Halal Product and Health was held on 13-14 October 2011. The Conference was organised by the Turkish Association of Food Inspector and Supplier Certification (GIMDES). Some academicians and Turkish practitioners in local and international certification have been invited to give talks and hold dialog with the participants. Mr. Lokman Ab.Rahman, Assistant Director- General representing JAKIM delivered his talk entitled Halal Anssurance and "O" defect in Halal Production..

 

The conference was attended by representatives of international participants and presenters from the United States, South Africa, Australia, England, Germany, Netherlands and Canada. Meanwhile the delegates from Asia were China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Most of the foreign delegates were made up of Turkish halal certification bodies and food manufacturers. Subtly, this conference brought together delegates from Muslim minority communities struggling to survive in the West and Asia. At a glance it appeared to involve only a meeting discussing issues of fiqh, procedures and science. In fact many people did not realise that it was an opportunity to strengthen business network and widen economic opportunities of Muslim communities through trading of raw materials that exist in their respective countries.     

 

The organiser tried to conduct a successful conference as with Malaysia’s success in holding MIHAS which was held concurrently with the exhibition and promotion of halal products internationally. However, the participation of the exhibition was not as good because such programme is new in Turkey as it was the fourth GIMDES exhibition. The interesting thing was that the Turkish government recognised the current situation requires a new market after the European countries suffered economic crisis. Spain and Greece are no longer able to provide the best market opportunities for Turkey. Greece itself suffers critical national debts. Through the halal certification, Turkey began eyeing new markets in Muslim countries with population totalling around 1.4 billion people. 

 

Although Turkey is a developed country with advanced military and was a former Muslim ruler of the world in the days of the Ottomans, Turkey still sees Malaysia as a teacher in halal certification. Halal certification restore the Islamic tradition that is greatly influenced by the Arab-Islamic culture, it is also seen as the future economic factor of the country. Before this, Turkey which relied heavily on the market of European countries, had to look its past identity which showed that Islam is the factor that contribute to its success in conquering Europe and Arab countries. In Islamic countries lie market opportunities to be penetrated for halal products as the demand and the potential is enormous.   

 

Malaysia is famous for its halal certification since starting it in 1974 and in a more orderly fashion beginning 2000. However, Malaysia is only a small country which depends on materials from large countries in the West and Asia. History of the country is still short and a large portion of it had to deal with foreign occupation. Nevertheless, Malaysia is famous for its halal certification system and the first Malaysian halal products has started to find place in major Arab cities such as Dubai. On the other hand Turkey has everything; historic experience as rulers of Europe and the Arab world, talent in various fields, a formidable defence and large tracts of land. Israel, which is very arrogant towards the Arab world quiet down in the face of Turkey. Its location is very strategic surrounded by developed countries of Europe. At the same time its location from the wealthy Arab countries is not so far and reasonably economical and has the link of history in the past. Just imagine, if Turkey lead the Muslims economy and produce halal products, surely the country will be able to build an Islamic economic bloc thus defend the Muslims all over the world who are mostly consumers!