Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao Supports the Halal Industry as it Gears Towards Digital Transformation

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao participated in the fourth installment of the 29th Mindanao Business Conference last October 23, 2020, where the key topics were the challenges and opportunities in the Halal industry, especially in Mindanao, hosted by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII).  

This theme of the MinBizCon 2020 is “Mindanao: Journeying in the New Normal” where industry players, government officials, private sector leaders, and more, meet to discuss the various economic challenges and solutions in the new normal, which will lead to eventual policy-making beneficial to different sectors in Mindanao. 

The key speakers of the event are Mr. Raison D. Arobinto from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Export Management Bureau, Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, former Regional Director of DTI Region IX, Ms. Marilou Ampuan, Trustee of DCCCII and Vice-Chairperson of the Regional Halal Committee, and Mr. Thomas Khoo, Managing Director of Fusionex International.

As a melting pot of various cultures, peoples, and traditions, Davao City positions itself as one of the country’s leading investment hubs, for it provides a favorable business climate, fertile land for agricultural opportunities, affordable utility costs, and a highly-skilled workforce. With this, investors from different industries are more than welcome to do their business in the city. 

It is notable that one of the most booming economies in Davao City is the Halal industry, which is a trillion-dollar industry that covers not just food, but there is also Halal finance, travel, modest fashion, media and recreation, and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Last May 4, 2019, the Department of Tourism (DOT) hailed Davao City as the first Muslim-friendly destination during the Philippine Halal Trade and Tourism Expo. The city now has over 10 Halal establishments, such as Marco Polo, Rumah Kari, Pearl Farm, El Bajada Hotel, Sunnypoint Hotel, Zabadani, Villa Margarita, Hijo Estate Resort, Tinhat Boutique, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and more. Ms. Marilou Ampuan also featured and appreciated Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, A Mapúa School, as the newest school with the best Muslim-friendly facilities and structures, as well as an institution that is most prepared to serve its Muslim community. 

Ms. Marilou Ampuan, Vice-chairperson of the Regional Halal Committee, promotes MapúaMCM as the newest school with the best Muslim-friendly facilities, structures, and community.

The rise of the Halal market, as well as Muslim-friendly establishments in the country, indicates that everyone—not only Muslims—are gearing towards the growth and acknowledgment of the Halal industry. Halal items are organic with no hazardous chemicals, no component that harms the body, no fake news, and no scams, which is the main reason why even non-believers also see the benefits of such practices.

“The event is very interesting and informative. I have learned that Halal is not limited to food that we eat but is also applicable to the source of income that we earn so anything that is illegal is haram, which means forbidden. Davao City invests a lot in promoting Halal in technology, business processes, food, travel, and tourism.” Ms. Astrid Cuezon, Head of the Office for Corporate Partnerships, and representative of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao in the MinBizCon 2020 stated.

As the Halal industry begins to break barriers and misconceptions, the industry is also looking into a digital transformation covering cryptocurrency, the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning. 

“Halal applications are also booming such as Netflix and Youtube. It is exciting to know that the Halal industry covers different sectors like pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which our Computer Studies, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Business students may consider in the future.” Ms. Cuezon added. “At Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, we ensure that we are most prepared in creating and providing opportunities for all of our students, and in return, showing support and solidarity to our Muslim community.”

The City Government of Davao is also preparing for a Davao E-Halal Hub Platform, through a partnership with Fusionex International. The hub will serve as a center for all Halal-related trade and businesses in Davao and Mindanao and will be able to connect to other international Halal hubs to promote and foster Halal goods and services trade. The hub is powered by cutting-edge data technology, real-time transactions online, and artificial intelligence, enabling growth in trade for the Davao-Mindanao area.

Mr. Thomas Khoo, Managing Director of Fusionex International, introduces the Davao E-Halal Hub Platform in the virtual MinBizCon 2020.

On a national scale, the Philippines’ initiative has been recognized as one of the key challengers in the Islamic Economy based on Thomson Reuters “State of Islamic Economy Report 2018/19.” The Philippines’ framework makes the country a respectable player in the Global Halal Ecosystem, practicing the Halal way of life.