Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 13^th August 2021 – The IsDB Center of Excellence (CoE) is collaborating with Halal Development Corporation (HDC) of Malaysia to undertake the Halal Industry Ecosystem Assessment, which will help identify key critical components of the halal industry, the best practices and the gap analysis within 22 countries around the world.

The collaboration, was announced today during the opening of HDC’s World Halal Business Conference 2021 5^th Series webinar entitled “Industry Convergence: Going Beyond Halal Business Boundaries”, IsDB Center of Excellence was represented by its Head, Mohamed Abida, while the HDC was represented by its Chief Industry Development Officer Hanisofian Alias.

The collaboration will have HDC undertake literature reviews, information gathering and synthesizing leading to qualitative and quantitative analysis of halal ecosystems for the selected countries globally. The two-month analysis, leveraging on the extensive knowledge base of experts, will capture primary data and analyze industry reports based on the main indicators pertaining to Halal Ecosystems including Governance, Policies, Incentives, Science, Technology & Innovation (STI), Human Capital Development, Enterprise Development, Infrastructure & Logistics and Promotion & Awareness.

“As it is a global assessment, the analysis will be comprehensive covering main Halal Industry players ecosystems in consumables and non-consumables products and services; food exporters such as Brazil, Republic of South Korea, Japan, UAE, Russia, Turkey, USA, China and our ASEAN counterparts," said Hanisofian.

"The collaboration between IsDB CoE and HDC, preparing the Halal Gap Analysis Studies for global Halal ecosystem will be an assurance to the Halal stakeholders and players globally in meeting its agenda in developing and implementing an integrated and sustainable Halal Ecosystem," he added.

 “It is impressive that, among its major achievements, Malaysia has built an extensive Halal Ecosystem,” he said, highlighted efforts made from the first issuance of JAKIM Halal certification in 1974, to publication of internationally-recognized Halal manufacturing standards and best practices, as well as the establishment of HDC in 2006 to spearheaded the development of Malaysia’s integrated and comprehensive Halal ecosystem and infrastructure,” Mohamed Abida said.

He also mentioned, “The findings and recommendations of the ecosystem modeling for Halal Industry will be a resource for future research in relevant areas, and for the use of policy makers and leading to partnerships, investments, trade and markets linkages. The assessment will identify action plans for the development of Halal ecosystem.”