ApexBrasil and Arab Chamber form alliance to increase halal food trade

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) signed an agreement with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce to increase exports of food products to Muslim countries, according to a statement released this Thursday (20).

The plan is to promote the sale of higher value-added foods, deepening the strong ties between Brazil and the Islamic nations, which already buy the unprocessed agricultural products produced here.

Brazil is the world’s second-largest supplier of food and beverages to the Muslim world, behind India, but mainly sells commodities including sugar, soybeans, chicken and corn, the statement said.

The agreement provides for a joint investment of around R$ 15 million over 30 months to diversify exports. The initiative includes subsidies for Brazilian food companies interested in applying for the so-called halal certification of their products.

Obtaining halal certification serves to attest that a product is suitable for consumption in Muslim societies, where food is only allowed if prepared in accordance with certain dietary requirements.

Tamer Mansour, secretary general of the chamber, said in the statement that the aim is to allow 500 potential Brazilian food and beverage exporters to participate in the global halal food trade.

The halal market comprises 1.9 billion consumers, according to the statement.

In addition to expanding trade with the 22 countries of the League of Arab States, the agreement will seek to boost Brazilian exports to Malaysia and Indonesia. The partnership will also target more halal food sales to minority Muslim nations such as France, Germany and the UK.

In 2021, Brazil exported US$16.5 billion worth of food and beverages to the 57 countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, according to the statement.

This represented 7.2% of the total imported by the block.