Director of the Việt Nam Certification Centre (QUACERT), Trần Quốc Dũng, spoke at the meeting. — Photo tcvn.gov.vn

HÀ NỘI — The National Halal Certification Authority (HALCERT) on Tuesday met with ambassadors from 15 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries to share its operational direction and explore collaboration opportunities in the Halal sector, reinforcing Việt Nam's commitment to developing its Halal industry.

During the meeting, Trần Quốc Dũng, Director of the Việt Nam Certification Centre (QUACERT), outlined HALCERT's mission and vision. He emphasised Việt Nam's determination to develop its Halal industry in accordance with international standards and practices. Dũng expressed his eagerness to learn from the experiences of OIC countries and seek partnership opportunities that could bolster Việt Nam's Halal initiatives.

Palestinian Ambassador, Saadi Salama, praised Việt Nam's efforts in establishing HALCERT, recognising it as a significant step forward. However, he also highlighted that this is just the beginning.

Ambassador Salama stressed the need for further strategic planning to advance the Halal sector effectively. He pointed out that raising public awareness about Halal is crucial and called for increased engagement from the Muslim community to aid in overcoming challenges and enhancing Việt Nam's Halal-friendly tourism sector.

Turkish Ambassador, Korhan Kemik, added that Halal-certified products are recognised for being clean and safe, making them a preferred choice not only for Muslims but also for non-Muslims.

He welcomed Việt Nam's decision to focus on the Halal sector, noting the growing global market for Halal products. Ambassador Kemik underscored the importance of establishing a unified global Halal certification system, which is currently lacking and would benefit the sector significantly.

Ramlan Bin Osman, head of HALCERT, confirmed that the centre is actively developing a strategy to certify Halal products according to widely accepted standards, particularly the OIC/SMIIC and GSO standards. He reiterated Việt Nam's desire for support and guidance from OIC members during the initial stages of developing its Halal industry.

The ambassadors expressed their readiness to assist Việt Nam in developing its Halal sector, particularly by training personnel in Halal standards and practices, marking a positive step towards enhancing the industry and fostering stronger ties with OIC countries. — VNS