The Western Cape is on a mission to grow its share of the $1.9 trillion halal market by at least 2% over the next two to five years. According to Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro, Cape Town and the Western Cape’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency, this constitutes growth of 1% in trade and 1% in tourism.
Speaking at the first-ever small scale conference and exhibition targeting the halal industry, Harris said this would see the region double its exports by 2025, making the Cape one of the leading global exporters to the halal market.
“This conference is the first step in making our vision a reality,” he said. Harris told the more than 450 buyers, CEOs and key opinion leaders attending the event held at the Westin in Cape Town that trade efforts had already intensified and that despite the hard-hitting drought that had affected the agricultural sector in the past three years, real results were being achieved.
“As a province we have a rich Muslim halal history and culture,” said Alan Winde, MEC for economic opportunity and development in the province. “This means we are perfectly positioned to tap into this market and increase our capacity in the halal supply chain.”
Winde said the goal was not only to become the leading exporter of halal goods and services, but also to position the city as a Muslim-friendly destination. This, said Winde, would ultimately lead to the bigger goal of the provincial halal strategy – to make the Western Cape the halal hub of Africa.
“We already export 60% of the country’s agricultural products. We understand agri-processing,” he said. “We already have the systems in place to trade in this space, it is merely a matter of revving it up for the halal market.” He said research into the halal market – originally approached only from an agri-processing and manufacturing point of view – showed the huge potential across sectors from finance to fashion, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as well as tourism.
“Cape Town is already a tourism hub,” said Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille. “A study published in 2015 showed the availability of halal food was a sure way to attract more Muslim tourists.”
She and Winde said it was a win-win situation for the province with trade and tourism efforts working together. As the province became more proficient at producing halal food it would automatically start delivering more Muslimfriendly services and draw more tourists.
The goal is to make the Western Cape the halal hub of Africa. – Alan Winde
