São Paulo – Brazil ships 30% of its meat exports to Muslim-majority countries, is the world’s largest halal poultry and beef exporter and has become a crucial supplier of food and beverages to the 57 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.
By presenting these figures that translate the grandeur of Brazil as a halal supplier and calling on more Brazilian businesses to join this market, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) president Osmar Chohfi (pictured) opened the 2nd Global Halal Business Forum (GHB) in São Paulo on Monday (23).
The forum takes place until Tuesday (24) as a major space for discussion and networking in the halal market, which consists of goods and services fit for Muslim consumption. The event is held by the ABCC and certifier FAMBRAS Halal.
Chohfi said Brazil has entered this market in the 1970s by trading poultry for oil with Saudi Arabia, and since the companies understood well the unique features of halal consumption, they were successful. In 2022, Brazil exported USD 23.41 billion worth of food and beverages to Muslim-majority countries, up 41% from 2021.
“It’s crucial that Brazilian entrepreneurs look at the business opportunities in Muslin markets when shaping their internationalization plans. In this forum, we’ll see the experience of companies that have already operated successfully in these markets, so that we can learn valuable lessons for their own endeavors,” he said.
The ABCC’s president called on Brazilians to diversify its halal exports, adding more high value-added goods and expanding into industries like cosmetics, medicines, clothing, and tourism.
Aiming to foster the sales of more high value-added foods from Brazil to Muslims, the ABCC and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) conduct the Halal do Brasil project, mentioned by Chohfi during the opening. The project has raised the awareness of 300 companies and carried out actions through this initiative. The GHB is being attended by halal importers and journalist invited by the project. The first are here to prospect and join business meetings while the latter came to strengthen the image of Brazil in the halal market.
After speaking about the halal market and pointing out that Brazil has a reputation for being a friendly nation earned by the Brazilian diplomatic tradition focused on dialogue, cultural soft power, and above all, the search for agreement and non-belligerence, Chohfi commented on the recent events in the Middle East. “And we couldn’t leave unmentioned our greatest regret for the tragic events in the Middle East and their victims, the wish for the prevalence of the standards of humanitarian law, the protection of civil populations, and the desire that peace and security can be achieved for the peoples in the region,” he says.
The master of ceremonies of GHB is journalist Renata Maron. The GHB is supported by the International Halal Academy, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the Union of Arab Chambers, and the Arab League, and held in partnership with the Brazilian Federal Government, Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ApexBrasil. Its sponsors are BRF, Marfrig, Minerva Foods, Laila Travel, Turkish Airlines, Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur), Travel Plus, H2R Insights & Trends, World Logistic Passport (WLP), Bank ABC in Brazil, Seara, Pão & Arte, Cristal Plus, Pamunã Alimentos.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
