Pioneering Halal Food Industry

Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon (2nd from left) crosses arms and holds hands with other dignitaries at the World Islamic Economic Forum Pyeongchang Roundtable at the Alpensia Resort Convention Centre in Pyeongchang on Dec. 16, 2014.
Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon (2nd from left) crosses arms and holds hands with other dignitaries at the World Islamic Economic Forum Pyeongchang Roundtable at the Alpensia Resort Convention Centre in Pyeongchang on Dec. 16, 2014.

 

With President Park Geun-hye’s visits to the Middle East, the Korean government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to develop its agriculture and halal food industry. Accordingly, Gangwon Province got the green light for halal market exploitation, which is its central business. 

As the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) decided to cooperate with the U.A.E., the province can strengthen its ability to win halal certifications through the mutual exchange between the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), the only halal certification organization in Korea, and the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (EASM). 

With the image of “Clean Gangwon,” Gangwon Province has already set up its strategy to target the Southeast Asian market first, including Malaysia. 

In December last year, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon met World Islamic Economic Forum (WIFE) Chairman Tun Musa Hitam in the WIEF Invest Roundtable Session being held in Pyeongchang, the host city of the Winter Olympics in 2018, and discussed measures to develop the halal market while introducing clean agriculture and livestock products in Ganwon Province. 

In order to tap into the Middle Eastern market, he also signed an MOU with Sanad Al Meqbali, chairman of the Emirates Entrepreneurs Association, to promote exchanges in not only the agriculture and fisheries sector but also the food and tourism sectors.

Accordingly, Gangwon Province will accelerate projects from this year to receive international certifications, including halal and FDA, in order to stably improve the export market. First of all, it will provide test fees, evaluation fees and vicarious execution commissions to 10 companies this year up to 125 million won (US$113,122).

An official from the province said, “Ganwon Province will support businesses focusing on halal certification in order to develop the Middle Eastern market, which has a high growth potential. As we have prepared to tap into the halal market, including Malaysia, from last year, we are likely to have fruitful results.”

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution