Thailand aims to become Southeast Asia’s leading halal hub by 2028

[webfact]

The Thai government has greenlit plans to transform Thailand into a leading halal hub in Southeast Asia by 2028, with a goal to elevate the nation’s GDP by 1.2%, or approximately 55 billion baht.

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, speaking after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, disclosed the government’s intent to constitute a national halal industry committee and the Thai Halal Industry Centre. The aim is to bolster the global presence of Thai food products and goods, while simultaneously boosting tourism, reported Bangkok Post.

 

In his dialogue with the King of Brunei and Malaysia’s prime minister, the possibility of co-developing a halal food centre emerged. The establishment of the industry committee and the halal centre is expected to invigorate the national economy.

 

The global halal business market is valued at a whopping US$2.1 trillion, expanding at an average rate of 7.5% annually. Unfortunately, Thailand’s slice of this lucrative market has dipped to 2.7% from the 4.1% it held a decade ago.

In the initial 11 months of 2023, Thailand’s export value of halal food products reached 217 billion baht, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. Most of these exports were naturally halal food items, encompassing rice, grains and sugar cane. Presently, Thailand is home to 15,043 halal food producers and over 3,500 halal food establishments.

 

“Thailand still has many opportunities based on our potential,” remarked PM Srettha. “The government is fully committed to establishing halal industry centres and expanding the halal product market, especially efforts to make Thailand a global halal kitchen.”

 

However, Thailand’s journey to develop its halal product sector is strewn with challenges, as per Rudklao Suwankiri, the deputy government spokesperson. These hurdles include fragmented promotion across multiple agencies and a lack of accountability among agencies and halal standard certification units, which create barriers for entrepreneurs.

The strategy to elevate Thailand as a hub for halal products by 2028 zeroes in on five product categories: food, fashion, pharmaceuticals and herbal products, cocoa, and services and tourism. The five-year plan is projected to bolster GDP by 1.2%, or about 55 billion baht, while generating an estimated 100,000 jobs annually.

 

Rudklao further stated that the initiatives would be propelled by three key measures: fostering demand, supporting supply, and enhancing environmental standards, in addition to promoting investment in the halal industry.

 

by Alex Morgan

Photo courtesy of Apichart Jinakul

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-28

 

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[HappyExpat57]

Who exactly assigns the grand titles of "Hub of this" and "Hub of that?"

[smedly]

another hub lol

[RandiRona]

Yeah sure, with Halal Pork I would assume ???

[2baht]

They are the "Hub of Hubs"! Hubba hubba! I know where the hub of BS is!

[grain]

Strict Muslims will only eat at Muslim managed halal restaurants regardless of whatever nonsense "hubs' the Thais come up with. 

[Highlandman]

How can a Buddhist country hope to eclipse fellow Muslim neighbors in terms of Halal food production? Does Thailand intend on converting most of its population to Islam? If yes, this plan might make some sense. If not, then this is another pie in the sky "hub" nonsense.

 

Thailand, stick with being the "hub" of mask wearing, you seem to shine at that but leave halal food production to Malaysia, Indonesia and other Muslim countries.

[simple1]

4 minutes ago, grain said:

Strict Muslims will only eat at Muslim managed halal restaurants regardless of whatever nonsense "hubs' the Thais come up with. 

 

The OP is primarily focusing on exports for food, fashion, pharmaceuticals and herbal products, cocoa. Tourism and services for Muslims which is already well underway from Malaysia, KSR etc

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Can anyone recall one of these 'hubs' that Thailand has claimed it was going to become, ever actually coming about??? 

 

[Sluglord]

Maybe they ought to chill on killing the Muslims in the south first?

 

Yet another article discussing the prime Minister and some minor, petty issue that does not rise to the level of the office

 

Hub of hubs. Meanwhile, Vietnam inches ever closer...

[Sluglord]

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

Tourism and services for Muslims which is already well underway from Malaysia,

 

There's no real tourism unless you include bars and brothels in south. In the 30 plus years I've been in and out of this country I think I've met probably fewer Malaysian than I could count on one hand.

[ChrisY1]

And not so far away in SE Asia, is Indonesia, the largest muslim population in the world, and Thailand' gonna be the hub?

Edited February 28 by ChrisY1

[Denim]

Halal meat hub ?  That's a cut throat business for sure.

[simple1]

54 minutes ago, Sluglord said:

 

There's no real tourism unless you include bars and brothels in south. In the 30 plus years I've been in and out of this country I think I've met probably fewer Malaysian than I could count on one hand.

 

Interesting...last year there were more than 4 millions Malaysian visitors to Thailand.

 

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/01/02/at-456-million-malaysian-tourists-top-list-of-visitors-to-thailand-in-2023-says-thai-minister/110295#:~:text=BANGKOK%2C Jan 2 — Malaysians led,international visitors during the year.

[Will B Good]

How are they not embarrassed? 

[ikke1959]

hub hub hub... Thailand is the country of hubs... even more than the biggest Muslim country in the world Indonesia. Another hub.. false information hub.

[Sluglord]

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

 

Interesting...last year there were more than 4 millions Malaysian visitors to Thailand.

 

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/01/02/at-456-million-malaysian-tourists-top-list-of-visitors-to-thailand-in-2023-says-thai-minister/110295#:~:text=BANGKOK%2C Jan 2 — Malaysians led,international visitors during the year.

Yup

 

All in Had Yai...

[Sluglord]

Yes, as we all know Thailand is the country of hubs. It's too bad it seemingly lacks the spokes

[Mbolo]

Oh dear, just when I thought there were no more hubs left, along pops another one. 

[ignore it]

WOW !!!

 

This is the second hub today!

 

Definitely a Wednesday hub day.

[Rampant Rabbit]

how  about making a  stand  about  the barbaric  slaughter of other animals instead

[Guderian]

It's only a short step from this to announcing that Thailand will become the leading hub in SE Asia for Indonesian food by 2030.....