The Taiwan Halal Center will open April 21 in Taipei City as part of government efforts to assist local businesses in tapping potential-laden Muslim markets worldwide, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) announced.
 
Operated by TAITRA under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the facility aims to create a complete halal industry ecosystem in Taiwan by providing local firms with market intelligence, helping them gain halal certification and stimulating related exports. The center will also serve as a match-making and information sharing platform for Taiwan companies and their counterparts in Muslim-majority economies.
 
Promotion of halal exports is a priority under the government’s New Southbound Policy. A key component of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, the peoplecentric initiative seeks to deepen agricultural, business, cultural, educational, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
 
While Muslims account for only 0.2 percent of the local population of 23 million, they make major contributions to the nation’s development and strengthen social diversity, a TAITRA official said. Given that most of the country’s migrant workers and new immigrants are Muslim, Taiwan has a great opportunity to expand trade and business links with rapidly developing Muslim economies, he added.
 
More than half of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims reside in Asia, with Indonesia the largest Muslim market in the world owing to its population of over 200 million people. The State of the Global Islamic Economy 2016/17 report released by financial services firm Thomson-Reuters forecasts that spending by Muslim consumers worldwide will increase from US$1.9 trillion in 2015 to US$2.6 trillion by 2020.
 
To help local firms grow their presence in Muslim markets targeted under the New Southbound Policy such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, the Taiwan Halal Center will organize international trade promotion tours for local companies and invite foreign buyers to visit the nation. It will also work to expand availability of halal-certified products domestically as part of broader government efforts to foster a friendly environment for Muslim residents and visitors.
 
Ongoing government projects to foster ties with Muslim nations include Halal Taiwan, an annual trade show launched in 2013 to promote locally made products and services. The government has also initiated campaigns to increase the number of halal-certified establishments in Taiwan as well as simplified visa procedures for visitors from the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries in other regions. (SFC-E)

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