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The second edition of Brazil’s most significant halal market event and networking opportunity is scheduled for October 23 to 24 in São Paulo. Organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and FAMBRAS Halal, the Global Halal Brazil Business Forum (ghb) will assemble experts, officials, and entrepreneurs from both Brazil and around the world. Illustrated below is an image from its inaugural edition.
Osmar Chohfi, President of ABCC, stated, “We aim to demonstrate the importance of this market to Brazilian business leaders and officials, while showcasing to Arab and Islamic participants that Brazil is a trustworthy and capable halal trading partner.”
The intention of the organizers is to enhance Brazilian engagement with the halal market, illuminating Brazil’s standing as a global supplier of halal meat to the Islamic world. They also intend to spotlight Brazil’s capacity for expansion into new sectors and other Muslim-majority countries.
Ali Zoghbi, Deputy Chair of FAMBRAS Halal, emphasized, “This is a pivotal juncture for the Brazilian industry. Our goal is to unite prominent halal exporters from various nations alongside influential Brazilian figures to underscore the global significance of halal, particularly in Brazil.”
Halal products adhere to the dietary guidelines of Islam and are permissible for consumption by Muslims in Islamic and other nations. These products must receive halal certification from an authorized entity to confirm their compliance.
Chohfi explained, “The Islamic market spans nearly 60 countries globally, with a population of 1.97 billion and an annual economic activity of USD 5.7 trillion. It’s an immensely important market.” He noted that in 2022, Brazil exported approximately USD 23 billion worth of food and beverages to Islamic countries.
Aside from being the world’s largest halal meat producer and exporter, Brazil is a major global provider of halal-certified food items and serves as a distribution center for such products within the Mercosur bloc, including Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The nation is also home to a significant Muslim population of 1.9 million, constituting a noteworthy halal consumer base.
The GHB conference aims to deliver the latest insights into the halal industry and foster extensive discussions led by prominent global experts. The 2021 edition featured over 50 speakers across ten panels and attracted an audience of 3,000 attendees, both online and in person. High-ranking Brazilian ministers and officials from reputable Arab Islamic organizations were also part of the event.
The second edition’s key topics will encompass “Opportunities for Brazil in the expanding global halal economy and Islamic finance,” “The value of halal certification for consumers,” “Digitalization as a catalyst for the global halal business,” “Halal traceability, blockchain, and certification,” “Strategic gateways to access the halal market,” and “Innovation and competitiveness in tourism and entertainment.” The event will occur in person at the WTC Events Center on Avenida das Nações Unidas and will be livestreamed on YouTube. Registration is open, and attendance is free. Companies have the opportunity to associate their brand with the event as sponsors.
The plenary sessions will take place in the mornings of both days, followed by the Halal Scientific Technical Congress (CTEC Halal) organized by the International Academy Halal in the afternoons. Zoghbi highlighted the new features of GHB, including the scientific technical congress, specialized discussions on topics such as tourism and logistics, and explorations of traceability, a powerful tool developed in Brazil to enhance the credibility of halal-certified services.
In the days subsequent to the discussions, the Halal Brazil project will facilitate business-to-business interactions and company visits. This initiative, led by ABCC and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), aims to assist food and beverage manufacturers in entering and strengthening their presence in the global halal market.
