The Office of Industrial Economics of Thailand (OIE) has announced that the Thai Halal Industry Driving Activities Project is part of the Thai Halal Industry Development Action Plan (2024-2027) and the Future Halal Food Industry Upgrading Project. This initiative claimed to be successful during its first year of implementation in 2024, with a trade generated value of 335 million baht. One of the important achievements of fiscal year 2024 is the establishment of the "Thai Halal Industry Center," which will participate in trade negotiations under bilateral and multilateral frameworks. In 2024, the Halal Industry Center will upgrade requirements for 32 enterprises and develop ten prototype processed halal food products. The Halal Industry Center also engages in business expansion operations in domestic and international markets.
Technically, the Thai Halal Industry Center carried out the following efforts in 2024: 1) Kick Off at Halal Inspirium; 2) Thaifex-Anuga Asia 2024 Participation; 3) Thailand-Brunei Joint Commission Meeting; and 4) IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting. 40 Thai entrepreneurs attended the Thai Halal Industry Center's inauguration meeting, and business matching operations with 37 trade partners resulted in 139 matches worth 88.7 million baht in trade. The Thai Halal Industry Center also organized an expo displaying 22 new halal products from entrepreneurs with cooperation from the National Food Institute and the Ministry of Industry, generating buyers worth 47.62 million baht. In terms of diplomacy, the Thai Halal Industry Center assisted nine Thai companies in promoting their products in Brunei, resulting in 3.2-million-baht initial orders and a projected 16.9-million-baht trade over four years.
OIE Director General Siripen Kiatfuengfoo claimed that Thailand will likely become ASEAN's halal production and export leader by 2027. To attain this position, the OIE is committed to supporting Thailand's private sector by offering complete halal industry services through the use of technology and constant innovation, which is projected to enhance standards and accelerate exports. Thailand's Ministry of Industry will establish a Halal Intelligence Unit, expand market participation, promote ready-to-eat meals, and produce halal fashion and cosmetic products. With this systematic approach, the OIE wants to make Thailand one of the top ten global food exporters in 2027 to many Muslim countries and regions globally.
Assessment
In the early stages of industrial development, government facilitation is critical. As a country with a non-Muslim majority, the Thai government's decision to establish the Thai Halal Industry Centre will benefit many companies that want to tap into the Halal Industry potential but lack knowledge of Halal Principles, funding, and access to buyers and suppliers. Thailand's Ministry of Industry appears to understand how to reach the goal of increasing Thailand's halal commerce volume by 2027 through a variety of calculated approaches, including technical aid, business matching, and diplomacy. Thailand's government recognized that the country is located in Southeast Asia, home to two large Muslim countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, with a combined population of 300 million. These people are prospective Thai product buyers, but they require confidence that the producers would adhere to Halal principles.
