The World Halal Forum (WHF) is now a Not For Profit entity, coming into its own, working hand in hand with the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI) who is the global Halal authority. WHF is now an organisation by the members for its members and the agenda to be set by the members. This change been effected after extensive consultation with all Halal Stakeholders. WHF will be institutionalised as a NGO taking on the role of a change agent, shifting the dynamics of the global Halal industry as it stands.
The World Halal Forum, now in its 6th year, is the world’s most sought after premier Halal industry event and has a proven track record as a crucial platform that plays a major role in determining the direction of the global Halal industry.
“World Halal Forum has been one of the main flagship brands for KasehDia and we are proud to see how in the course of 5 years, the World Halal Forum has tackled issues, identified opportunities and become the beacon of knowledge and a catalytic force of change in the global Halal industry. It is timely then that we elevate this platform into one that is non-profit, a move that will allow the brand to propagate change on a different level altogether, working within the support system and the strong international network of IHI Alliance”, said Jumaatun Azmi, Founder and Managing Director of KasehDia Sdn Bhd.
In recent years, the WHF has focused primarily on issues related to certification and standards development, and this important work continues to be developed by the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI) in collaboration with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the Organisation of Islamic Conference.
“Taking ownership of World Halal Forum and steering it in its new direction of offering solutions and executing an action plan is definitely within our area of expertise and we hope to give this event a leg up with our international network and resources. It is indeed an honour to be handed the baton and with that the onus to start a new chapter in the direction of the Halal industry”, said Darhim Hashim, CEO of International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI Alliance).
This year, the World Halal Forum is being held from 4 - 5 April, at KL Convention Centre, with the theme “Towards a Halal Economy: The Power of Values in Global Markets”.
In the words of the Malaysian Prime Minister, YAB Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, “We need to think beyond industries and move into the larger realm of a Halal Economy…a value-based economy rooted in trust, integrity and fairness.”
The twin pillars of this Halal Economy are the Halal products sector and the Islamic Financial services sector. The convergence of these two Shariah-based industries forms a strong economic platform that is built on a shared set of values – values that will play an increasingly strategic role in shaping global markets in the coming decade.
“This is a first step in what we term as Halal 2.0 where one of the biggest shifts that we are going to see over the coming decade will be the interaction between the Halal sector and Islamic finance. This is inevitable – they are the two great Shariah-compliant business sectors, and yet there is currently little or no interaction between them. The merging of these two sectors will give rise to areas of new growth and wealth creation”, said Abdalhamid Evans, Director of World Halal Forum.
“In addition, we will be focusing on consumer needs and business opportunities, and looking at the way new ‘value-driven’ markets are emerging all over the world that have a strong synergy with the Islamic values in the Halal sector”, he added.
Under the theme “Towards a Halal Economy: The Power of Values in Global Markets” the WHF 2011 will be highlighting thought-leaders from around the world in various sectors of the broader Halal market arena. Sessions for WHF 2011 will focus on:
· The inevitable convergence of the Halal and Islamic Finance sectors, and the impact this will have on both sides over the coming decade.
· Case studies examining how to position products that reflect Halal values in the mainstream marketplace.
· Dealing with diversity: regional Halal-related trends and issues in a global marketplace.
· Halal values in print, on TV and online. The role of conventional, digital and social media in shaping consumer perceptions as well as providing access to 1.7 billion potential customers.
· How the rise of Halal-friendly travel is revolutionising the hospitality, tourism and MICE industries.
· Progress reports and new directions for the World Halal Forum’s global network, including updates on WHF London and IHI Alliance projects.
Over 900 delegates made up of business leaders, industry players, thought leaders, scholars and government officials are expected to attend the World Halal Forum which is part of the week-long ‘Halal Malaysia Week’ initiative which is a private-public sector collaboration between the World Halal Forum Secretariat (World Halal Forum, 4 5 April 2011), MATRADE (International Halal Showcase or MIHAS, 6 - 9 April) and HDC (World Halal Research Summit, 6-7 April 2011).
World Halal Forum Secretariat - www.halaljournal.com
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