BANGKOK (Manager Daily)- A new industrial estate for the production of Muslim food in Pattani province will soon be established to pave the way for the south to become a new centre of Islamic food in the region.
Thailand’s Finance Minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, said on Monday that many countries had showed the interest to invest in the industry in the country's southern region, especially in the production of ready-to-eat beef for export.
According to the minister, investment projects are expected to get off the ground next year.
The minister said the trade value of Halal food in the world market is US$70 billion a year. The Kingdom, which is recognized as a kitchen of the world, has the potential to become a production centre of the food, he said.
Thailand currently has less than 10% of market share of Halal food in the vast Islamic world.
The Thai Islamic Trade and Industrial Association reportedly signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to promote small and medium-sized enterprises that produce Halal food.
Dr Somkid told members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in a meeting at a Bangkok hotel that Halal food had a tremendous market in the Middle East.
The 4-day 4th Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Task Force on SMEs for Export Products began on Monday in the Thai capital.
The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Department of Export Promotion, and Thai Islamic Trade and Industrial Association (TITIA) jointly organize the event.
The organizers said the meeting was aimed to strengthen the partnership of the institutions, to facilitate increasing trade and investment as well as strong economic ties for greater integration among Thailand and OIC member countries.
This is the first time the OIC allows a non-Muslim country to host the event.
Thailand’s Finance Minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, said on Monday that many countries had showed the interest to invest in the industry in the country's southern region, especially in the production of ready-to-eat beef for export.
According to the minister, investment projects are expected to get off the ground next year.
The minister said the trade value of Halal food in the world market is US$70 billion a year. The Kingdom, which is recognized as a kitchen of the world, has the potential to become a production centre of the food, he said.
Thailand currently has less than 10% of market share of Halal food in the vast Islamic world.
The Thai Islamic Trade and Industrial Association reportedly signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to promote small and medium-sized enterprises that produce Halal food.
Dr Somkid told members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in a meeting at a Bangkok hotel that Halal food had a tremendous market in the Middle East.
The 4-day 4th Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Task Force on SMEs for Export Products began on Monday in the Thai capital.
The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Department of Export Promotion, and Thai Islamic Trade and Industrial Association (TITIA) jointly organize the event.
The organizers said the meeting was aimed to strengthen the partnership of the institutions, to facilitate increasing trade and investment as well as strong economic ties for greater integration among Thailand and OIC member countries.
This is the first time the OIC allows a non-Muslim country to host the event.