Western Cape plans halaal logistics hub

The Western Cape
government’s initiative to
establish a Halaal Hub is fast
gaining traction.
According to Premier Helen
Zille, the development of such
a specialised food hub is one of
the levers the province is using
to boost the agro-processing
sector.
“The signing of an
agreement with Malaysia, a
leader in the supply of halaal certified
products, was the first
step. We have identified the
land around the area as ideal
for such a hub as it is easily
accessible from the various
farming regions in the Western
Cape. We can bring the agri
goods in from the farms,
produce it using the Malaysian
know-how and then export it
into Africa.”
She said South Africa was
a leader in farming but not
enough beneficiation of its
agricultural sector was taking
place locally. “This hub will
address that and allow us to
add value to our agricultural
sector. It is time to turn our
land into green gold.”
According to Zille, the
province is also talking
to several other countries
and regions’
agricultural sectors
to process their
products locally.
“The food
business
retail sector is
expanding into
Africa as this is
where the best
potential and
opportunities lie.
We have the skills
and capacity to
develop farms
and make them
highly productive
by creating more
factories on our
shores to process
these goods.”
She said the
halaal industry
had been identified
simply due to the large
numbers of Muslims in Africa
who were always trying to
source halaal products. Almost
half of Africa – 44% – is of
the Muslim faith and the need
to provide certified products
to countries has been on the
increase.
Halaal food
parks globally are
currently valued
at more than
$2.3 trillion.
“The Western
Cape can capture
a share of this
market servicing
Africa in
particular,” said
Zille.
Halaal parks
or hubs, as is
being planned
by the Western
Cape, are simply
a cluster of
manufacturing
and service firms
specialising
in the halaal
industry.
“This will be a big game
changer for the province,” said
Zille.