Live Blog: World Halal Forum - Day 3

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 – 2:00 PM in Kuala Lumpur

From flour and animal feed producers to butchers and bankers they are all here to meet, exchange views, and collaborate in the development of the global halal marketplace.  This is indeed an historic event in the consolidation of an idea long under represented in world wide business circles. 

This morning's sessions focused on the developing confluence between Islamic finance and the Halal industry. 

We heard from Ms. Juma'atun Azmi, Managing Director of KesehDia (in picture left), who spoke about the development of the full spectrum of the halal services value chain and the natural synergies which both Islamic finance and the Halal industry share.  The development of this service chain will be dictated by the core markets in the Middle East, Asia and SE Asia but also by increasingly influential markets in countries with sizeable and powerful Muslim minorities.  Ms. Azmi's comments were backed by solid market research of more than 2 years.  But her most telling remarks delivered a clear take away message...  That the development of the halal industry is based simply on three things—having a good product, proper certification, and solid marketing.  More later InshaAllah...

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 – 10:00 PM in Kuala Lumpur

I returned to the hotel with my media colleagues earlier this evening - shortly before sunset.  It was a day full of interesting discussion about the direction and expansion of the halal industry.  What arose as a major topic was the issue of standardization.  The halal industry has for some time contended with differing interpretations of halal.  When it comes to meat - what type of cut is necessary, can you stun an animal, does an animal have to be fed with halal feed?  What to say of other products like oils or dairy products. 

These are questions that still linger and there were many prominent calls for a global standard.  One delegate however put it this way, "Muslims should apply the same methods they use to arrive at consensus when they sight the moon for Ramadan and the Eids."  This may have been nothing more than a nicely worded statement that said, "Muslims will never agree to a global halal standard."

Update on my luggage… I have to wait another day... %&#*&@#!  I won't mention the airline that’s responsible for this.  The interesting thing is how I've been looking for sympathy from random people.  I went across the street to pick up some more duds for tomorrow and I found myself telling the salesman about my predicament.  All I got in return is a semi-confused look that said varyingly, "So what?!", "Too bad", or "I have no idea what you're saying".  So the lesson to me is I should be patient... after all "God is with the patient." (Q 2:153)

Signing off for today...