MANILA: Artisans and small business owners from Bangsamoro, the Philippines’ only Muslim-majority region, have joined a nationwide campaign to tap into the global halal market, as they showcased traditional, handmade crafts at a halal expo in Manila.
More than 100 small Philippine businesses producing and manufacturing halal products took part at the three-day Halal Expo Philippines in Manila, which concluded on Saturday.
The event is part of an initiative by the Philippines to promote its domestic halal industry, with the aim of entering the multi-trillion-dollar global halal market.
With colorful, handwoven goods ranging from traditional bags to garments, entrepreneurs and craftsmen from Bangsamoro participated at the Manila expo in the hope of taking their products global.
“These are the products of the indigenous, mostly women … Through this expo, we’re hoping that our products will get noticed,” Malano Mai, senior trade and industry development specialist of the Bangsamoro government, told Arab News on the sidelines of the event.
