NationThailand-Sept 7
Thailand has set an ambitious goal of becoming one of the world’s top five halal exporters, as it shows significant growth driven by the burgeoning Muslim population, which presents substantial opportunities. This lucrative sector, worth more than £1.6 trillion, includes a diverse range of products and services, with food accounting for the majority. Despite its potential, Thailand’s halal exports currently rank 11th globally. Trade barriers, the credibility of Thai halal certification, and high transportation costs have slowed progress. However, recent developments bode well for the Thai halal industry. The establishment of the Halal Department and the National Halal Industry Committee, combined with the restoration of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, has strengthened Thailand’s position as a regional halal hub. Supawan Teerarat, director of the National Food Institute (NFI), said that the halal market included a wide range of products such as textiles, wellness, health, spas, and tourism, with food accounting for 80-85% of the market value. Thailand’s export value for halal products in 2023 was 222.247 billion baht. It is ranked 11th in the world and is expected to grow at 4% per year. Paisan Promyong, president of Samut Prakan Province’s Islam Council, highlighted some of the challenges. He said that Thailand had received government support to promote halal products over the last 10 years, but it was yet to meet the target due to numerous weaknesses such as trade barriers, the credibility of Thai halal certification, and the quality of Thai halal certification. “People think that Thailand is a Buddhist country, and the high cost of transport makes it difficult to compete on price,” he said. In 2024, the Thai Halal Industry Centre was established as a responsible agency that connects the cooperation framework of 12 halal-related government agencies into a one-stop service to facilitate and speed up business operations. Read more at: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40041263
