BANGKOK (Manager Daily)- Violence in southern provinces has caused the plan to set up an industrial estate to produce Islamic (Halal) food in Pattani to delay, according to Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Wan Mahmad Nor Mata, whose ministry is responsible for the project.
Mr. Wan Nor, who is a Muslim MP from Yala, said the construction is likely to complete in 2006, not 2005 as projected earlier. The government will still hold 50% in the investment to produce foods for Islamic world, from which the Kingdom earns THB20 billion (US$488) in export in 2004.
The Halal food produced by the estate will not only meet daily needs of Islamic community in Thailand’s Muslim dominated southern provinces, but will also be exported to other Muslim countries especially in the Middle East, said Mr. Wan Nor.
The government has already set aside THB1 billion (US$24 million) in fiscal budget to fund the construction of the industrial estate, in line with the policy to make Thailand a kitchen of the world. The office of the Board of Investment (BoI) has already granted to the project numerous investment privileges.
A committee set up to develop the Halal estate said it is yet to ask for THB398 million in budget to fund the construction of infrastructures for the industrial estate next year. Chulalongkorn University has set up the Hallal Food Institute to promote the products abroad.
“Muslims constitute 30% of the world’s population while the export of Halal foods from Thailand shares only 5% of the market,” said Mr. Wan Nor. Most exported items are frozen and canned food, he said.
The Kingdom stands a good opportunity to promote Halal food products to the world market when 200-300 delegates from Muslim chambers of commerce worldwide meet in Thailand in January 24-27, he said.
Mr. Wan Nor, who is a Muslim MP from Yala, said the construction is likely to complete in 2006, not 2005 as projected earlier. The government will still hold 50% in the investment to produce foods for Islamic world, from which the Kingdom earns THB20 billion (US$488) in export in 2004.
The Halal food produced by the estate will not only meet daily needs of Islamic community in Thailand’s Muslim dominated southern provinces, but will also be exported to other Muslim countries especially in the Middle East, said Mr. Wan Nor.
The government has already set aside THB1 billion (US$24 million) in fiscal budget to fund the construction of the industrial estate, in line with the policy to make Thailand a kitchen of the world. The office of the Board of Investment (BoI) has already granted to the project numerous investment privileges.
A committee set up to develop the Halal estate said it is yet to ask for THB398 million in budget to fund the construction of infrastructures for the industrial estate next year. Chulalongkorn University has set up the Hallal Food Institute to promote the products abroad.
“Muslims constitute 30% of the world’s population while the export of Halal foods from Thailand shares only 5% of the market,” said Mr. Wan Nor. Most exported items are frozen and canned food, he said.
The Kingdom stands a good opportunity to promote Halal food products to the world market when 200-300 delegates from Muslim chambers of commerce worldwide meet in Thailand in January 24-27, he said.