Global halal food market is worth $1.1 trillion

01/02/2015 05:55 AST

The international Halal food market, considered one of the fastest growing segments of the worldwide food industry and currently worth $1.1 trillion globally, occupies an integral part of Gulfood 2015 — the 20th anniversary of the food and hospitality trade show.

In all, more than 1,000 international halal food brands and companies will convene at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Feb. 8-12 to display thousands of Halal products — from energy drinks, vegan and vegetarian foods to meat and poultry, canned goods, gourmet and fine foods — at the second annual Halal World Food.

With more than 80,000 international food industry professionals expected to attend the largest edition of Gulfood, Halal World Food will cement its standing as the world's biggest annual halal food sourcing trade show. Beyond the significant, sector-specific commercial and trading opportunities presented at the dedicated show-within-a-show concept, the inaugural Halal Investment Conference on Feb. 10 will debut as part of the three-day Gulfood Leaders Events program.

"The global halal food market now accounts for a fifth of the world's food trade (Datamonitor, 2014), and as the primary trading hub for halal food in the MENA region, Dubai has both the ambition and world-class infrastructure to become a worldwide halal center," said Trixie LohMirmand, SVP, exhibitions and events management, DWTC.

Topics to be covered at the Halal Investment Conference include among others the role of halal in Dubai's capital of Islamic Economy vision, business opportunities in the global halal marketplace.

“Dubai, with its vision to become the capital of the Islamic economy and the introduction of its halal scheme will level the playing field for all halal manufactures and restore consumer confidence," said Idris Mohammed, director, Tilly-Sabco Bretagne — a French leader in chicken production and slaughtering, and the title sponsor of the Halal Investment Conference.

Arab News