As a rapidly transforming world where global food habits are constantly evolving, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Jurin Laksanawisit, emphasized the mounting importance of investigating the future of food. Laksanawisit particularly underscored the Thailand Halal Market, as well as the organic food sector. Predicting the world population to surge to 10 billion by 2050, he accentuated the prospective opportunities these areas hold for launching novel business ventures.
Despite accounting for a mere five to eight percent of the Muslim population, Thailand forges a path toward becoming a recognized global leader within the halal food industry. With a substantial $31.8 billion export record in 2022, Thailand faces the formidable challenge of managing a completely halal food chain. Nonetheless, by the close of the current fiscal year in September 2023, the country’s halal food exports are estimated to hit a remarkable $8 billion.
Breaking new ground, Thailand extends its customer base beyond familiar boundaries into diverse markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the US. These territories, boasting substantial Muslim populations, demonstrate a leaning towards Western-style processed and semi-processed halal food, thus providing Thai businesses with a novel consumer segment.
With a backbone of over 5,000 halal-certified companies producing an excess of 160,000 items, Thailand showcases an impressive trajectory in halal food exports, from $4 billion in 2020-21 to an estimated $6 billion in 2021-22. This advancement, achieved in tandem with the private sector and Thai government agencies, manifests the concerted efforts toward expanding the industry’s reach.
The recent “THAIFEX Anuga Asia 2023” food exhibition, hosted by the Department of International Trade Promotion and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, exemplifies Thailand’s commitment to the halal food sector. The event hailed as Asia’s leading food and beverage trade show, provided an exclusive platform for halal foods.
During the event, a Pakistani business delegation sponsored by the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand in Islamabad made a significant visit to the Halal Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Their positive impressions of the rigorous halal certification process and the stringent regulatory regime in Thailand serve as a testament to the country’s standards.
Member of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation, Chaudhary Muhammad Ali, highlighted the crucial role of Thailand’s technological transfers in setting up a sophisticated food industry in Pakistan. Following the exhibition, several joint ventures between Pakistani and Thai companies aim to establish units dedicated to preparing and packaging pet food.
Despite facing economic constraints and the ongoing dollar crisis, Thailand’s food exports to Pakistan, encompassing a diverse array of food products, exhibit impressive growth rates.
All halal products and services in the country earn the endorsement of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, backed by the Halal Standard Institute of Thailand and the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University. This dual compliance to religious and scientific standards assures consumers worldwide of the quality and authenticity of Thai halal food.
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