Coffee, tea… Vietnam is trusted by many markets

On the afternoon of July 13, Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA), Food and Food Association of Ho Chi Minh City, Investment and Trade Promotion Center of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC), Consulate General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City organized the seminar “Halal Market: Concepts, Potentials and Challenges”.

Halal standards and regulations are increasingly strict

Ms. Ly Kim Chi, Vice President of HUBA said, it is estimated that the global Halal market will bring in trillions of dollars each year as the demand for Halal products from Muslim countries increases.

However, in fact, Vietnamese food businesses can only partially meet the needs of Muslim countries because to bring products into Muslim countries requires businesses to have Halal certification.

However, Halal standards and regulations are increasingly strict, Halal certification is not valid forever, not equally recognized in all countries, for all products. Therefore, causing many difficulties for businesses.

Sharing experiences in exporting Halal products since 2010 to nearly 10 Muslim countries, Mr. Nguyen Dang Hien, General Director of Bidrico Beverage Company said that if he wants to export to this market, the product must first First, they must meet many strict standards to be granted a Halal certificate, with a cost of more than 30 million VND. Next is market access, which is an important factor…

“With great potential, exporting to the Muslim market contributes significantly to the company’s total revenue,” said Mr. Hien.

Mr. HJ.Abu Samad, Director of Vietnam Halal Inspection and Certification Co., Ltd., said that, depending on the industry, the average investment of enterprises with Halal certification is more than 20 million VND, after a year of re-certification.

After three years must re-certify from the beginning. Halal certification is valid across the Muslim community.

According to Mr. HJ.Abu Samad, the global Halal market is 5 trillion USD/year. Particularly in the first six months of the year, Vietnam’s export value to the Muslim market reached about 4 billion USD.

Currently, many Vietnamese products are trusted by the Muslim community such as coffee, tea, beans, food, etc.

Halal-certified soft drinks and energy drinks are exported to the Muslim market.

Must have enough information and knowledge

According to Ms. Chi, as one of the major agricultural and seafood exporters in the world, if Vietnamese enterprises take advantage and promote well, it will help Vietnamese products firmly enter the Halal market.

“Especially, right in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia … is one of the potential markets that is not unfamiliar to Vietnamese enterprises,” said Ms. Chi.

Sharing the same view, Ms. Wong Chiann, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnamese enterprises that want to be certified Halal must have enough information and knowledge about what products are “allowed” and “not allowed” according to the regulations. Islamic law, for example rice is allowed and pork is not allowed.

The entire production line must ensure the principle of being hygienic and not harmful to health; Halal and non-halal products cannot be produced in the same line.

Or that removing a non-Halal ingredient will not make the product Halal again. All need to be proven during the Halal certification process.

For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City has a Halal convenience store

(PLO)- Halal is expected to become a shopping and dining destination for tourists and the Muslim community living in Ho Chi Minh City as well as international tourists.

TU UYEN