The Halal Assessment Council (HAC) of Sri Lanka participated in the 13th HAPEX and Global Halal Conference, held on the 30^th of August, in Hat Yai, Thailand at the invitation of The Government of Thailand, through the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo.The conference brought together industry practitioners, academics, and key figures from the fields of tourism, hospitality, wellness, certification, governance, and legislation. Attendees included government & private sector representatives from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and more.

Seated from right to left: Assoc. Prof. Dr Pakorn Priyakorn, Director of the Halal Standards Institute of Thailand, Mr Aakif A. Wahab, Director – CEO, Halal Assessment Council, Sri Lanka, Dr Alaa Abdelall Elnemr, Head of Veterinary Medicine Directorate in Giza, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt, Mr Mohib Zama, Director Regulation, Pakistan Halal Authority, Asst. Prof, Sukree Langputeh, Manager of Andaman Anatolia Technology College, Thailand.

Discussions at the panel covered a range of topics, including an overview of the Halal industry in the participating countries. The opportunities and challenges in the industry were discussed, including  strategies for global economic collaboration in order to tap into the USD 2 trillion global Halal market. 

Associate Professor Dr. Pakorn Priyakorn, Director of the Halal Standards Institute of Thailand highlighted, how Thailand has evolved as a global leader in Halal food since 2001. He noted that Thailand introduced its first Halal food product standards back in 1998, aligning with CODEX Halal standards. Today, Thailand stands as the 8th largest exporter of Halal products worldwide, with exports valued at USD 7.24 billion in 2023 and over 180,000 Halal certified products. This underscores the fact that Halal is an integral part of Thailand’s national economy.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a significant export destination for Sri Lankan Halal-certified products, reported exports estimated at USD 55 million for 2023. 

Dr. Thamer A. Baazeem, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at the Saudi Halal Center, emphasized the importance of Halal in Saudi Arabia’s food safety procedures, which directly impacts international exports to the Kingdom. The Saudi Halal Center is currently collaborating with 76 Halal conformity bodies worldwide and is also launching the Global Halal Academy to support practitioners in capacity-building efforts.

Mr. Aakif A. Wahab, Director and CEO of the Halal Assessment Council, noted the similarities between Thailand and Sri Lanka, both majority Theravada Buddhist countries with minority Muslim populations of 6% and 10%, respectively. Sri Lankan Halal-certified Food & Beverage exports are estimated at USD 1.7 billion for 2023, representing a substantial 14% of Sri Lanka's total exports.Mr Aakif commended the Thai government for its initiatives in supporting the Thai Halal industry and driving economic development through it. He emphasized that support was needed from the policymakers in Sri Lanka for ensuring a more sustainable growth in the Halal industry, as demonstrated in Thailand.