Brunei Halal Showcase Attended by High-Level PH Delegation

Brunei Minister Dato Haji Mat Suny visits the Philippine Halal pavilion with Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman, and Philippine Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Pete Raymond V. Delfin

BRUNEI 24 August 2018 – Philippine Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman, together with Philippine Embassy in Brunei Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. Pete Raymond V. Delfin, led the Philippine delegation during the launching ceremony of the Brunei Halal Showcase (BruHAS) 2018 at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Bandar Seri Begawan on 08 August 2018.

The event was officially launched by Brunei Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI), Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd. Hussein.

Also in attendance were Singapore-based Philippine Trade and Investment Center Commercial Counsellor Maria Cynthia Ricafort, Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Director Gary Auxillian, and officials from the Philippine Accreditation Board, Zamboanga Ecozone, and the Embassy.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Dato Haji Mat Suny, together with Undersecretary Macatoman and Chargé d’ Affaires Delfin, viewed the exhibit featuring more than 100 participants from the food, cosmetics, fashion, pharmaceuticals, household products, and Halal services sectors.

The participating companies comprised of local, Brunei-based international companies, and invited international companies from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.

A total of ten private sector companies from the Philippines, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Embassy, participated in the BruHAS exhibit held at the ICC.

The Philippine Halal pavilion is filled with proudly Philippine-made products from ten private sector companies—muscovado sugar, natural fruit jams and marmalades, banana chips and coated peanuts, fresh coconut water, coconut-based whitening soaps, and personal care items—that have all received halal certification.

The pavilion also featured a colorful and vibrant jeepney, where guests visiting the pavilion can have their photos taken.

Activities during the five-day BruHAS event include the Third International Seminar on Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services, a halal business investment seminar, a halal clinic open to the public, and business matching and networking sessions.

The main objectives of BruHAS are creating awareness on the development of the Halal industry, exposure of Halal products and services, and supporting MSMEs in their business ventures to become internationally competitive. BruHAS was first held last year by the Brunei MEMI, participated only by local and Brunei-based international companies.

This year’s edition is the first time that Brunei has invited participants from other countries. It has grown to showcase MSMEs in products and services that strive to be “Halalan Thayyiban,” a standard beyond the technical halal requirements which factors in the “wholesomeness and quality” of a product or service. END

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman networks with Brunei senior government officials and invited guests who are experts in the halal industry. (Brunei PE photo)

The Philippine Halal pavilion at the BruHAS 2018 exhibits proudly made Philippine products that are halal certified like muscovado sugar, natural fruit jams and marmalades, banana chips and coated peanuts, fresh coconut water, coconut-based whitening soaps, and personal care items. (Brunei PE photo)

Bruneians taste the halal certified banana chips and fresh coconut water. (Brunei PE photo)

For more information, visit www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassybrunei.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/.