Welcome remarks by Chief Executive of MUIS, Mr Kadir Maideen at Singapore Halal International Seminar

Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Acting Minister in-charge of Muslim Affairs;

Mr Sa’at Abdul Rahman, President of MUIS;

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Assalamu’alaikum wr wb (Peace Be Upon You) and good morning.

Introduction

1. Welcome to the Singapore Halal International Seminar.

2. Today we have gathered here with a clear mission - to strengthen collaboration across the halal industry. Through sharing of knowledge and best practices.

3. The halal market is expanding rapidly, and consumer expectations continue to evolve. With many distinguished halal industry leaders, certification experts and key stakeholders joining us from around the globe. We have the opportunity, to collectively represent the future of this vital industry.

4. The need for unified standards has never been greater. And Singapore is proud to provide this platform, to allow us to have meaningful conversations and build lasting partnerships that will shape our industry’s future.

Singapore's halal development journey

5. Singapore’s halal development journey started as a modest initiative 15 years ago. The strategy then was a simple one – i.e. to facilitate trade. Today, Singapore’s halal development has evolved into a thriving ecosystem. Serving our local community and markets across Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

6. And now, MUIS has embarked on three initiatives to enhance our Halal ecosystem.

   • First is our Halal Certification E-Service Portal which represents our digital transformation journey, to have a comprehensive platform that streamline certification processes, and acts as a one-stop portal for businesses to manage their applications as well as for consumers to search for Halal certified Eating Establishments and Food Preparation Areas.

   • Second, we have strengthened our Public Education campaign. Through targeted outreach programmes, we educate consumers, businesses, and the community about halal standards, building greater awareness and trust in Singapore’s halal certification system.

   • Finally, working with our religious and academic institutions, we pioneered the development of Fatwa on Alternative Proteins, demonstrating our commitment to being future-ready and sustainable. By providing religious guidance on emerging food technologies like cultivated meat and plant-based proteins, we are ensuring Singapore’s halal framework remains relevant for tomorrow’s food landscape. These initiatives collectively position Singapore as forward-thinking, balancing tradition with innovation to serve our community’s evolving needs.

Remarkable progress and impact

7. The Progress and Impact of Halal Development in Singapore has grown exponentially. The number of MUIS-certified establishments has increased significantly. Our halal-certified food exports now reached over 40 countries worldwide. The network of recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies (FHCB) has also expanded substantially. This reflects growing integration within the global halal certification framework. It demonstrates increasing trust across international markets. This growth strengthens relationships between nations. And the harmonised standards benefit the entire industry.

8. Halal Certifying Bodies serves as beacons for our community. They protect our religious dietary obligations and are guardians of consumer confidence in halal integrity. At the same time, these bodies open doors of opportunity. As they create business growth and inclusive employment. And strengthen bonds between Muslim communities across all borders.

9. We now have the opportunity, to take this a step further. Harmonising religious values with modern demands, we will launch the Enhanced Foreign Halal Certification Body Recognition Framework and System.

10. This initiative represents our commitment towards continuous improvement. It also demonstrates our dedication to deepen international collaboration.

11. Ladies and gentlemen, we will also take the opportunity at this event to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MUIS and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. This partnership will continue the work to further strengthen our collaborative efforts and create more pathways for halal trade and recognition between our nations.

Conclusion

12. I encourage everyone to engage fully in the sessions planned. The knowledge exchanged here will shape our industry’s future. The partnerships formed will create lasting impact and drive innovation. MUIS is committed to supporting these endeavours. We are humbled by this opportunity. And we look forward to learning from the rich exchanges ahead.

13. Thank you for being part of this event. Together, let us build a stronger, more connected halal ecosystem that serves the Muslim communities globally.

14. I wish you all a productive seminar ahead.

Thank you.