To help strengthen the Philippine halal industry, a group of Filipino Muslim businessmen recently organized the Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Philippines (HICCIP) on June 26, 2013, at Gloria Maris in Greenhills, San Juan. The aim of this organization is to encourage investments and partnerships on Halal-based businesses and entrepreneurships involving both local and international business groups and individuals which can then bolster the national economy.
Particularly, this organization endeavors to help in ensuring the authenticity and credibility of Philippine Halal-certified products for the utmost benefit of both local and foreign Muslim consumers.
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Mehol K. Sadain, who was the keynote speaker, gave a rousing address on the importance of this organization not just to the economy but to the Filipinos in general.
Other important dignitaries who graced the event were Guia G. Gomez, city mayor of San Juan City; H.E. Dato’Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim, ambassador of the Embassy of Malaysia in the Philippines; lawyer Carim L. Panumpang, chair of the Board of HICCIP, Alexander M. Sultan, president of HICCIP; Bai Omera-Lucman, commissioner of NCMF; and Dato’ Hj Mohamad Alayuddin Hj Hasan, chair of the Malay Chamber of Commerce-Putrajaya.
Also present were other members of the Muslim diplomatic community as well as business, foreign diplomatic representatives, government and NGO leaders.
The HICCIP is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Halal, in Arabic terms, refers to medicines and food that are allowed by the Shariah or the Islamic law.