BD eyes global halal meat market

FT ONLINE

With the global halal economy booming, public and private-sector stakeholders have made a move to increase halal meat exports abroad, according to sector insiders.

The fisheries and livestock ministry has already urged Brazil to invest in halal meat products in Bangladesh for export to different global destinations.

Recently, fisheries and livestock minister Narayan Chandra Chanda sat in a meeting with Brazilian ambassador in Dhaka Joao Tabajara Oliveira.

Mr Chanda proposed the South American country through the envoy to set up a joint venture in Bangladesh for exporting halal meat, a ministry official said.

To grab a big share of the global market, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has also taken an initiative to increase exports of halal products, including meat.

"We are planning to expand our export market for halal meat and other product," DCCI president Abul Kasem Khan said.

Ossama Imam, a halal food expert of a quality certification company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will arrive in Dhaka next month, he said.

The DCCI will seek his suggestions on how to increase exports of halal meat products.

"We will sit with the UAE expert in the second week of August," said the DCCI chief.

Countries like Brazil, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand are dominating the halal market globally.

Currently, Bangladesh exports an insignificant volume of halal meat abroad.

Insiders said the predominantly Muslim country can grab a sizable share of the global halal market, especially in the Middle East countries.

But this calls for application of modern technology and government policy support, they added.