HALAL - More companies granted Islamic halal certification

www.hurriyetdailynews.com - Banvit, a poultry and meat company based in the northwestern province of Balıkesir, is the firm producing the highest number of halal-certified productss, and Istanbul is the province with the most certified-halal businesses, according to data from the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE). The number of requests for halal certification from Turkish companies is on the rise, as the country has been developing its trade ties with other Islamic nations. Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, TSE and appointed experts work together in the certification process. (source)

RATINGS - CRaHFT Ranking 2012 | Top 10 Halal Friendly Holiday Destinations 2012 - OIC Countries

#3. Turkey

Every time we think of Turkey, we think "Hmmmm, Baklava...." but Turkey has SO much to offer Halal-conscious vacationers! Turkey's rich history makes it an amazing place to explore - from the remnants of castles and battlegrounds to the thriving Turkish Riviera and the stunning beaches. So kick back, relax and enjoy yourself in Turkey this year! (source)

EVENTS - HALAL - The 1st International Halal Congress opened in Ankara with the participation of more than 16 countries.

abna.ir - (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Participants to the Congress were members of their respective countries' chambers of commerce, as well as international manufacturers, academics and food experts.

The topics of the Congress included: Halal products (food stuffs, raw goods, necessity food stuffs, laboratories, standardization of documents, accreditation etc.), Halal medicines, Halal cosmetics and other hygienic products, Halal services (collective food services, hotels, restaurants and tourism sector, banking, transport and collective vehicles) (source)

HALAL - Turkish companies' eye on $1 trillion halal food market

Turkish food companies have shown strong interest in getting a higher share of the world halal food market, whose value is estimated at $2 trillion per annum, as the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) received more than 20 applications from food companies to get a “halal certificate,” proof that their meat is cut in accordance with Islamic teachings. (source)

HALAL - Turkey's standards body to issue halal food certificates

Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) President Hulusi Şentürk has announced the TSE will start issuing halal food certificates for eligible products this fall.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, Şentürk said the TSE has already started working on having its authority recognized by other Muslim nations. He said an official meeting in Cameroon that was attended by standardization representatives from 33 Muslim countries last month was the venue for TSE to launch the process. “There is a $930 billion halal food market worldwide. We have to enable Turkish businesses to enter this market with an advantage,” he said. (source)

HALAL - Turkey eyes greater share of pie in global halal market

The size of the total global halal products market ranges from $1.2 trillion to $2 trillion per annum, according to industry experts. Turkey currently only has a small share of the pie, but it hopes to become one of the leading actors in the sector. (full story)

OPINION - Muslim BRIC has arrived

THE investing and financing world is about country linkages that are economic and financial opportunities clustered as growth stories. The most recognised country linkage is BRIC (Brazil, Russia India and China): it conjures mental images of geographies, growth, size, demand, etc.

Another term that is increasingly invoked by businesses looking for opportunities is 'RDE,' or Rapidly Developing Economies, and includes examples of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and so on. To put theory into practice, globally committed firms, like Thomson Reuters, have established positions like Global Head of RDE. (full story)

INDEX - SAMI Halal Food Index holds Turkish companies

Sime Darby, Nestle (M) and Genting Plantations are among the top companies on the Socially Acceptable Market Investments Halal Food Index.
 

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian listed food companies form over a third of the 274 companies in the newly-launched SAMI (Socially Acceptable Market Investments) Halal Food Index.

These 95 companies represent over two-fifths or US$53 billion (RM161 billion) of the index's total market capitalisation of US$114 billion (RM345 billion).

Sime Darby Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd and Genting Plantations Bhd are among the top companies on the index, Thomson Reuters global head of Islamic finance and OIC countries Rushdi Siddiqui said.

"This adds feather to Malaysia's Islamic finance hub and the convergence of both (Islamic finance and halal industry)," he told a news conference on the sidelines of World Halal Forum (WHF) 2011 here yesterday.

Also present were Deloitte Malaysia global leader of Islamic finance Daud Vicary Abdullah, WHF director (Malaysia/the UK) Abdalhamid Evans and AmIslamic Funds Management chief executive officer Datin Maznah Mahbob.(full story)

FINANCE -Turkish Parliament approves bill for Islamic production deal

A bill that allows Turkey to join an Islamic production deal was postponed in 2004. DAILY NEWS photo (source)

LIFESTYLE - HALAL - OIC urges Turkey to take the lead in $1 trillion halal food market

Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country and a major food producer, may take the lion’s share of the $1 trillion halal food market around the world. (source)