Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said his agency is taking the lead in creating market space for Filipinos in the growing $3 trillion global good halal industry by providing a framework for business owners to participate.
He is referring to the Philippine Halal Ecosystem which he has been pushing for its faster development, particularly for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Pascual said the DTI is collaborating with various departments to draft the Philippine Halal Strategic Plan 2023-2028, while also signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) and creating a Special Task Force last month.
“In developing the Philippine Halal Ecosystem, there is a need to provide a framework for business owners to be part of the growing USD 3 trillion industry. We see it as a value proposition that existing companies can be part of,” the DTI chief said during the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board Meeting at the DTI Board of Investments building this week.
He added that “the mandate of the law (RA 10817) creating the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board is not limited to our role in the accreditation and certification of Halal entities, products, food and beverages, cosmetics, and services.”
The DTI is working with various departments to draft a five-year Halal strategies including the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and private sector representatives.
The Philippine Halal Strategic Plan will complement the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 2022-2028, focusing on its four pillars: halal integrity; industry development; capacity building; and marketing and investment promotions.
Further, Pascual shared that the DTI is actively working to raise awareness in appreciating the Halal industry as a value proposition, realizing its goal to promote the Philippines as a top investment hub for the Halal market in the ASEAN region.
The DTI remains committed to the goal of capitalizing on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement to fully develop and support the industries and the Muslim Filipino population, according to the DTI chief.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao DTI head and Halal Board Member Abuamri Taddik, signed the MOC between the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board and the Bangsamoro Halal Board on Halal Development and Promotion.
The said MOC provides a cooperation framework for Halal industry development and promotion of products, services, standards, regulations, and Islamic financing products and investments.
Apart from this, Pascual spearheaded the creation of a Special Task Force on Halal Industry Development following Department Order No. 23-133, issued last Sept. 20.
He said that the creation of the DTI-Special Task Force aims to comprehensively develop the Philippine Halal Ecosystem, leveraging the support of attending agencies and others in the country's Halal industry positioning.
“As we move forward we see our collaborations to strengthen our market intelligence and branding in terms of our trade and investment promotions and address other pillars such as Halal Integrity, Industry Development, and Capacity Building,” Pascual added. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)