Dubai – The halal food and industrialized product market has an annual turnover of US$ 580 billion worldwide. Of this total, Latin America is responsible for US$ 1 billion, being Brazil one of the countries most benefited from the growth of the market.
The figures were presented on Tuesday (22) by Ayman Hamed, the marketing director at Al Islami group, during a luncheon promoted by the Dubai Chamber. Al Islami, headquartered in Dubai, is the first halal brand in the Middle East.
The luncheon was organized as an event in the sidelines of the Gulfood, a food sector fair that ends tomorrow, in Dubai, to promote meetings between international importers and local buyers of foods.
Al Islami group started operating in 1981, with the import of frozen chicken from Brazil. The company currently works following the concept that halal represents quality of life, as, apart from being a religious requirement, halal production requires a series of sanitary cares.
“The more companies notice that halal is an advantage, and not just an extra expense, the more they come to the market,” he said, pointing out that there is much space to be occupied by producers of halal items.
According to the executive, in the United States, for example, the Muslims spend around US$ 16 billion a year in kosher products, due to the lack of halal products. “In the United States, for each halal product, there are 86 kosher ones”.
The halal market currently supplies 1.8 billion Muslims on five continents.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
To Hamad Buamim, the director general of Dubai Chamber, Brazil may benefit from important opportunities in the emirate not just in the area of food and beverages, but also in the areas of health and trade in general. “Trade was always part of the history of Dubai and should continue as its platform,” he said.
Dubai Chamber should promote a mission to Brazil in the first half of this year, for discussion and promotion of an annual seminar between São Paulo and Dubai. The subject is also being developed by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
The government of Dubai also called for the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber to host the Global Congress of Chambers of Commerce, an event that takes place every two years. In 2011, the meeting should take place in Mexico, while Dubai is working on hosting the 2013 edition.
“There are also talks for the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce to be present in the edition in Mexico,” said Hassan Al Hashemi, the Foreign Relations director.
With regard to Brazilian food sector companies, Al Hasehi said that “their presence here has been expanding significantly. The main reason for this is that Dubai works as a distribution centre in the region. Therefore, there are companies that establish themselves here for that reason.”
*Translated by Mark Ament
