Local exhibitors at Africa Halal Week 2019 say they want to expand their brands beyond the shores of Cape Town.
Adam Ally, from NviroGreen Solutions, a family business based in New Woodlands, said the three-day exhibition at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) enabled them to expose their brands to international guests from countries such as Malaysia, Mozambique and America.
The annual event, co-hosted by the Western Cape government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the City of Cape Town and Wesgro, took place for the second time, from Monday October 7 until Wednesday October 9.
Mr Ally wants his green pest control company to become a household name.
Imraan Parker, a manager of Mitchell’s Moslem Butchery in Woodlands, said they had their products in hotels and businesses in Cape Town.
“We are proud of what we do, we have faith in the products we manufacture, and we hand this to our customers, when they serve it in their homes.”
He said they would like that homely feeling of pride to be exported.
Theyhavebuiltpartner-
ships and are working to export products to Ghana, Indonesia and Dubai.
Halaal is an Islamic Arabic term relating to everything “permissible” to Muslims, including lawful foods, drinks, modest fashion, lotions, Islamic banking, investment, trade opportunities and personal conduct.
The Western Cape is home to a large Muslim population, with a rich and diverse tapestry of Islamic history and culture.
This has earned it a reputation for being among the world’s
most friendly destination for Muslims.
Wesgro chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Harris said the halaal trade in the Western Cape had grown over the last four years, with the sum of halaal relevant exports to all consumers increasing from R43.7 billion in 2015, to R52.9 billion in 2018 – a 21% growth.
“It is estimated in 2018, that halal exports contributed almost 8% of Western Cape total exports, while the top halaal export markets in that year were the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, while export growth to Turkey doubled,” he said.
More than 63 exhibitors displayed their wares and services including Islamic banking, modest fashion, film and media promotion, cuisine, investment and
trade.
“Wewelcometheplayers and thought leaders in the halal industry to the Western Cape and encourage them to explore the opportunities we offer,” said Mr Harris.
James Vos, mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management, said Cape Town was a melting pot of colour, cuisine and culture.
“We have a rich Muslim heritage with the Cape Malay community that makes up a quarter of Cape Town’s population,” he said.
Mr Vos said they were working with the City’s destination marketing agency, Cape Town Tourism, to implement numerous strategies to grow this industry.
“Studies have revealed that
the Muslim visitor arrivals, which were estimated to be 121 million
in 2016, will grow by over 100% to 230 million arrivals by 2026,” he said.
At the conference on Monday October 7, Mr Vos also welcomed the more than 24 international buyers joining this year’s event, from countries that included Mozambique, America, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana.