INTERVIEW-Halal industry held back by lack of customer-first commercial drive, says former head of Malaysia’s halal promotion agency
Instead of paying attention to the money countries can reap by tapping into a market of almost 2 billion Muslims, halal leaders have been exercising themselves too much with certification and which Islamic school of thought should be followed, according to the recently retired head of the world’s first agency charged with developing and promoting halal expertise.
“Definitely you are talking about economic opportunities, but this is something that Muslim countries don’t really see. They can’t see past the religion,” Jamil Bidin, the former chief executive of Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) told Salaam Gateway during a wide-ranging conversation in Kuala Lumpur.
Jamil retired earlier this year after 12 years in HDC’s top post. Prior to being headhunted by the then Malaysian prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the accountant and MBA-holder had occupied senior positions in corporations and government-linked companies.
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