Halal Business Opportunities
The Halal market in the Greater Bay Area is increasingly becoming a lucrative area with tremendous business opportunities. With the growth of the Muslim population in the region, the demand for Halal food and services is continuously expanding. According to statistics, the Muslim population in the Greater Bay Area has reached millions.
In order to tap into this vast market, businesses in the Greater Bay Area can explore the Halal market by obtaining Halal certification. Halal certification can help businesses ensure that their products and services meet the dietary requirements of Islam and provide assurance to consumers. Companies with Halal certification can attract not only Muslim consumers but also more Halal tourists, thereby driving the development of the local tourism industry.
Furthermore, the global Halal food market was estimated to be worth $150 billion in 2023, with a growth of over 15% compared to 2022. One of the key factors in accessing this export market is obtaining recognized Halal certification for products. JAKIM is one of the top three global Halal certification bodies, and Muslims worldwide use it as a confidence indicator. Therefore, obtaining JAKIM’s Halal certification for products is also the key to unlocking the global Halal market.
In summary, the Halal market brings vast business opportunities to businesses in the Greater Bay Area. Through Halal certification, businesses can gain a competitive advantage in both domestic demand, tourism, and exports in this field, promoting industry development and expansion.
Halal Certification
OriGene and GBA Halal Certification Centre Limited (GHCC) signed a memorandum of understanding on January 26, 2024, establishing a long-term partnership. OriGene, founded by Professor Shao Pengzhu, Director of the Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Chinese Medicine Research and Development Center at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Ms. Sharifa Leung, General Manager of GHCC, held the signing ceremony at the LOHAS Expo 2024 venue at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
OriGene is supported by the Research Grants Council’s Theme-based Research Scheme. Professor Shao Pengzhu and Mr. Wei Shuguang lead a team to establish OriGene, aiming to contribute to society by establishing professional and scientific standards for traditional Chinese herbal medicine through DNA species identification technology. GHCC was established in 2023 by two Chinese Muslim founders as a local Halal certification service center. In addition to providing Halal certification services for businesses, the company also offers corporate training to further expand into the Halal market. The team includes Halal administrative staff, testing and auditing personnel, as well as members and advisors from Islamic law committees. The audit process follows the standards set by the Malaysian JAKIM Halal certification agency. After obtaining JAKIM’s recognized Halal certification qualification, they can assist Hong Kong products in exporting to major Muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. GHCC will overall enhance the level of Halal certification in Hong Kong. The company has signed memoranda of understanding with the Korea Muslim Federation, the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and OriGene to establish a solid foundation for future Halal certification services.
In this collaboration, the two parties have agreed to establish a long-term cooperation on Halal certification: GHCC, as an overseas certification body pre-approved by JAKIM, will use and recommend OriGene’s DNA species identification services in the DNA testing process required for Halal certification. OriGene will also engage in long-term exchanges and technology transfers with GHCC and its technical partners on the relevant processes in Halal certification. They hope to establish the first professional Halal certification laboratory in Hong Kong as soon as possible, providing Halal certification and testing services for businesses in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Greater Bay Area together with GHCC.