DTI developing mobile app for halal products

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is developing a mobile app intended to raise awareness and provide easy access to halal products and services.

Speaking at the 3rd Philippine National Halal Conference, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the DTI is working on an interactive mobile application to increase awareness on the  halal industry.

For a product or service to be considered halal, it should follow the prescribed process of preparation according to Islamic law and be certified by accredited bodies.

Lopez said the app would help promote the country’s readiness to supply halal-certified products and services, as well as serve as a guide for users on available halal establishments and products.

“Our ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand already have similar apps that enable consumers to validate halal certificates and extract other information of the products and its manufacturer. Likewise, these apps help locate mosques and halal-certified restaurants with the use of GPS, which makes it easier for Muslim tourists visiting the country,” he said.

The development of the mobile app is among the programs being implemented by the DTI, which chairs the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board, for the development of the country’s halal micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and halal certifying bodies.

The DTI has also expressed interest to work with Indonesia and Malaysia to explore trade opportunities for such goods.

Lopez said the DTI also included halal products in its program to promote Filipino food worldwide.

While the country has 10 halal certifying bodies, he said this should be increased to accommodate more applicants and encourage more businesses to tap opportunities to cater to the $3.3-trillion global market for halal.

He said halal food, pharmaceutical and media sectors were among those least affected by the ongoing health crisis.

Lopez said the world’s 1.8 billion Muslim consumers spent an estimated $2.2 trillion across the different sectors of the halal economy in 2018, up 5.2 percent from the previous year.

For the Philippines alone, halal export sales reached $83.2 million.

When the pandemic struck, Lopez said the popularity of halal food rose even further as consumers turned to healthier practices for safety.

As such, he said there is a need to develop and expand the reach of the country’s halal-certified products for major Islamic markets by training certification bodies on applicable market requirements to make sure producers, manufacturers and providers of such goods and services meet both national and international standards.

“Ultimately, this will push our MSMEs to become competitive and export-ready producers, manufacturers, and providers of halal-certified products and/or services,” he said.

He said the development of the country’s halal industry and the employment opportunities it would create would help the economy bounce back from the pandemic.

“Halal is a lifestyle that can be enjoyed by everyone and we are confident that our halal MSMEs will contribute to our country’s economic recovery in the post-pandemic future,” he said.