Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, has listed milestones for the Malay/Muslim community in 2018.
In a post on his Facebook page, he said, "We celebrated key achievements such as Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) golden jubilee, the steady educational progress of our children led by MENDAKI Singapore, and a stronger People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA).
"Since I announced the M³ framework in May, I know many parties have been working very hard to galvanise resources and shape initiatives to uplift our community both individually or as part of M³ initiatives."
The framework refers to a partnership between MUIS, self-help group Mendaki and MESRA to better the lives of the Malay/Muslim community and keep divisive teachings at bay. "M³ will need time to develop but I am confident that our collective wisdom and sincere effort to strengthen our community, especially vulnerable families, will bear fruit, in sha Allah," he said.
Sunday, 30 December 2018
Saturday, 29 December 2018
Minister Masagos shares hopes for Singapore asatizah
Singapore Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli hopes that asatizah-to-be continue motivating themselves and will be transformational in their dakwah journey. Dakwah refers to raising the awareness of Islam.
In a post on his Facebook page, he reported meeting Singaporean students studying in the Islamic University of Madinah and King Saud University in KSA, and noted that many were concerned about their career options when they returned to Singapore.
"Our asatizah bear the responsibility of guiding the Malay/Muslim community in a multi-religious and multiracial Singapore. Beyond teaching the values of being a good Muslim, such as being kind to your neighbours and even the environment, our religious leaders should also strive to produce knowledge, and not simply reproduce it," he said.
Minister Masagos was in KSA for the annual Haj Ministerial Meeting.
In a post on his Facebook page, he reported meeting Singaporean students studying in the Islamic University of Madinah and King Saud University in KSA, and noted that many were concerned about their career options when they returned to Singapore.
"Our asatizah bear the responsibility of guiding the Malay/Muslim community in a multi-religious and multiracial Singapore. Beyond teaching the values of being a good Muslim, such as being kind to your neighbours and even the environment, our religious leaders should also strive to produce knowledge, and not simply reproduce it," he said.
Minister Masagos was in KSA for the annual Haj Ministerial Meeting.
Muis opens applications for honorary positions at Hajj 2019
Applications for honorary positions in the Singapore Pilgrims' Affairs Office (SPAO) for Hajj 2019 (1440) are now open.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) sets up the SPAO every year to provides medical and welfare services to Singaporean pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, KSA.
For Hajj 2019 the SPAO will operate in both cities from mid-July to late August.
Muis invites applications for the following appointments:
Honorary Medical Officers
Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC)
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Has knowledge in manasik (مناسك, rituals) of Hajj
Honorary Nursing Officers
Has valid State Registered Nurse (SRN) certificate
Singapore citizen
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Has knowledge in manasik (مناسك, rituals) of Hajj
*Paramedics holding a valid SRN certificate may also apply
Honorary Assistant Pilgrim Officers
Minimum five GCE ‘O’ Level passes with experience in administration, management and logistics
Singapore citizen
Must have performed Hajj (as a pilgrim)
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Highly competent in Microsoft Office applications including Access and Excel
Physically fit
Details:
Download the Eligibility Requirements and Application Form and submit it by 28 January 2019, 5pm.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) sets up the SPAO every year to provides medical and welfare services to Singaporean pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, KSA.
For Hajj 2019 the SPAO will operate in both cities from mid-July to late August.
Muis invites applications for the following appointments:
Honorary Medical Officers
Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC)
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Has knowledge in manasik (مناسك, rituals) of Hajj
Honorary Nursing Officers
Has valid State Registered Nurse (SRN) certificate
Singapore citizen
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Has knowledge in manasik (مناسك, rituals) of Hajj
*Paramedics holding a valid SRN certificate may also apply
Honorary Assistant Pilgrim Officers
Minimum five GCE ‘O’ Level passes with experience in administration, management and logistics
Singapore citizen
Must have performed Hajj (as a pilgrim)
Preferably involved in voluntary organisation/community work
Highly competent in Microsoft Office applications including Access and Excel
Physically fit
Details:
Download the Eligibility Requirements and Application Form and submit it by 28 January 2019, 5pm.
Friday, 28 December 2018
Singapore appeals for more Hajj places this year
Singapore's Masagos Zulkifli has had his first meetings with the KSA Minister of Haj and Umrah, HE Dr Mohammed Saleh Bin Taher Benten and his deputy Dr Abdul Fattah Mashat as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.
"I shared that I first performed Hajj in 1988 and ma sha' Allah, how the vicinity has changed over the years. Despite hosting more pilgrims, the hospitality and services are improving every year and this has attracted more and more Singaporeans to want to perform the Hajj," he said on his Facebook page.
"I shared that I first performed Hajj in 1988 and ma sha' Allah, how the vicinity has changed over the years. Despite hosting more pilgrims, the hospitality and services are improving every year and this has attracted more and more Singaporeans to want to perform the Hajj," he said on his Facebook page.
"I appealed for more places to be extended to Singaporeans, so that our current Hajj waiting list can be reduced."
Minister Masagos also met with Chairman Madinah Adillah, Sheikh Hatim Jaffar Bali and Chairman of Muassasah Southeast Asian Pilgrims, Dr Mohamed Amin Hasan Andergiri. The Adilla is the KSA government agency in charge of coordinating pilgrim activities in Madinah, KSA, while the muassasah system was implemented in 2000 to introduce more regulation into managing pilgrims. Where travel organisers used to make their own unregulated agreements with private agents in KSA, only officially-appointed agents in KSA under the muassasah system may now do the work.
Minister Masagos also met with Chairman Madinah Adillah, Sheikh Hatim Jaffar Bali and Chairman of Muassasah Southeast Asian Pilgrims, Dr Mohamed Amin Hasan Andergiri. The Adilla is the KSA government agency in charge of coordinating pilgrim activities in Madinah, KSA, while the muassasah system was implemented in 2000 to introduce more regulation into managing pilgrims. Where travel organisers used to make their own unregulated agreements with private agents in KSA, only officially-appointed agents in KSA under the muassasah system may now do the work.
"I commended the Saudi authorities who have rendered excellent services to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and Association of Muslim Travel Agents (AMTAS) officials to ensure that our Singaporean pilgrims are able to perform their Hajj smoothly every year," he added.
"Let us continue to pray for the best outcome for our appeal for more Hajj places, in sha' Allah."
The Muis Hajj website says that Muslims who register at the time of writing will perform Hajj in 2070 (52 years from 2018).
"Let us continue to pray for the best outcome for our appeal for more Hajj places, in sha' Allah."
The Muis Hajj website says that Muslims who register at the time of writing will perform Hajj in 2070 (52 years from 2018).
In 2017, Singapore’s official Hajj quota was 800, based on 0.1% of Singapore's Muslim population. This formula of 0.1% was decided by the Organisation
of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1987. Priority is given to first-timers, with repeaters capped at 10% of the quota in any year. Repeaters are generally able to perform Hajj again only after 10 years.
According to the Singapore Department of Statistics' 2015 census figures, the latest available for reported religion, 14% of the population are Muslims. In 2018, the total population is 5.6 million, according to Singstat; Worldometers put it at 5.5 million in 2015. This makes the 800 quota figure about right, as 0.1% of 14% of 5.5 million is 770.
Details:
Browse Muis' instructions for applying for Hajj
Thursday, 27 December 2018
Professor Jackie Ying is first woman to win Turkish Academy of Sciences award
Mustafa Prize Laureate Professor Jackie Y. Ying has won the 2018 Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Academy Prize in Science and Engineering Sciences. This award recognises her pioneering work in the synthesis of advanced nanostructured materials for biomedical, catalytic, energy and advanced materials applications.
Professor Ying heads A*STAR’s NanoBio Lab in Singapore. “It is a great honour to receive this Prize from the Turkish Academy of Sciences. I am grateful to be able to do exciting research with the talented scientists and dedicated staff at NanoBio Lab in Singapore.
"Technological breakthroughs can help to improve the quality of lives and benefit society in many ways. It is my hope that we can make a distinct impact through many successful clinical translation and commercialisation of our research,” said Professor Ying.
The TÜBA Academy Prizes have been presented annually since 2015 in three categories to eminent scientists who demonstrate original, leading and groundbreaking work in their fields. The three award categories are Science and Engineering Sciences, Health and Life Sciences, as well as Social and Human Sciences.
Candidates are nominated by TÜBA members, science academies and inter-academy organisations that collaborate with TÜBA, as well as other international scientific institutions and scientists who have been invited as nominators. The nominees in each category are evaluated by a committee composed of TÜBA members and renowned scientists, who select the winners via a rigorous peer review of their work.
Professor Ying is the only female recipient of the TÜBA Academy Prizes in 2018. She is also the first woman to receive the TÜBA Academy Prize in Science and Engineering Sciences. The other 2018 TÜBA Academy Prize winners are Professor Fatih Mehmet Uҫkun of the University of Minnesota (Health and Life Sciences category), and joint winners Professor Bold Luvsandorj of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Professor Viorel Panaite of the University of Bucharest (Social and Human Sciences category).
Each laureate received an Academy medal and US$30,000.
Professor Ying heads A*STAR’s NanoBio Lab in Singapore. “It is a great honour to receive this Prize from the Turkish Academy of Sciences. I am grateful to be able to do exciting research with the talented scientists and dedicated staff at NanoBio Lab in Singapore.
 |
| Source: NanoBio Lab, A*STAR. Professor Ying (right) and her daughter (middle) with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the TÜBA award ceremony. |
The TÜBA Academy Prizes have been presented annually since 2015 in three categories to eminent scientists who demonstrate original, leading and groundbreaking work in their fields. The three award categories are Science and Engineering Sciences, Health and Life Sciences, as well as Social and Human Sciences.
Candidates are nominated by TÜBA members, science academies and inter-academy organisations that collaborate with TÜBA, as well as other international scientific institutions and scientists who have been invited as nominators. The nominees in each category are evaluated by a committee composed of TÜBA members and renowned scientists, who select the winners via a rigorous peer review of their work.
Professor Ying is the only female recipient of the TÜBA Academy Prizes in 2018. She is also the first woman to receive the TÜBA Academy Prize in Science and Engineering Sciences. The other 2018 TÜBA Academy Prize winners are Professor Fatih Mehmet Uҫkun of the University of Minnesota (Health and Life Sciences category), and joint winners Professor Bold Luvsandorj of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Professor Viorel Panaite of the University of Bucharest (Social and Human Sciences category).
Each laureate received an Academy medal and US$30,000.
Islam in the Philippines series calls for proposals
The series focuses on long and short research monographs, policy-oriented books, handbooks, and collections of multidisciplinary studies and analyses on historical and contemporary Islam and Muslims in the Philippines. The series is in collaboration with Palgrave Macmillan on a project by project basis.
There are four chief editors:
- Dr Nassef Manabilang Adiong, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies, the University of the Philippines Diliman
- Dr Jeffrey Ayala Milligan, Professor of Philosophy of Education and Sociocultural & International Development Education Studies, and Director of the Center for International Studies in Educational Research and Development for the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, US
- Mansoor L. Limba, Associate Professor of political science and international and Islamic studies at Ateneo de Davao University, Philippines, and
- Isaac Donoso, at Universidad de Alicante, Spain
Email book proposals to Dr Nassef at contact at nassef.info.
All book proposals should include the following:
– The proposed title of the book.
– A description of the book (between 400 and 700 words) that explains its rationale, scope, significance to the series, its relations to competing works, and notable contribution to existing scholarship.
– A table of contents with chapter summaries.
– Estimated word length for the whole book, its proposed completion date, and description of its target readership.
– Optional: one or two sample chapters.
– Complete curriculum vitae of the author(s).
Singapore at Haj Ministerial Meeting
The Singapore Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Masagos Zulkifli, is leading Singapore’s delegation for the annual Haj Ministerial Meeting in KSA, running from 24 to 28 December 2018.
Masagos' schedule includes meeting the Minister for Haj and Umrah, HE Dr Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Benten and his deputy Dr Abdul Fattah Mashat to discuss arrangements for Singaporean pilgrims and other matters for the upcoming Hajj season scheduled in early August 2019.
On his Facebook page Masagos reported meeting the Governor of Makkah, HRH Prince Khaled bin Faisal Al Saud as well as his son, the Deputy Governor of Madinah, HRH Prince Saud bin Khalid Al Faisal.
"The governors play an important role in overseeing the building of infrastructure and operations for Hajj and umrah pilgrims, which has seen remarkable improvement over the years. In particular, the expansion of the Masjid al Haram and holy sites has enabled a larger number of Muslims to perform their religious obligations with comfort and security," he said on Facebook.
"I was pleased to hear of praises from the governors on our Singaporean pilgrims, in terms of observing good etiquette and respecting the rules in-placed for their own well-being and welfare. I hope our Singaporean pilgrims will continue to fly our flag high in the years to come."
In Madinah, KSA, Masagos is scheduled to engage Singaporean students in a dialogue.
This is Masagos’ first Haj Ministerial Meeting as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. He will be accompanied by the Chief Executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Haji Abdul Razak Hassan Maricar, the Deputy Chief Executive of Muis, Esa Masood, and other senior officials.
Esa is due to take over from Haji Abdul Razak in 2019.
Masagos' schedule includes meeting the Minister for Haj and Umrah, HE Dr Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Benten and his deputy Dr Abdul Fattah Mashat to discuss arrangements for Singaporean pilgrims and other matters for the upcoming Hajj season scheduled in early August 2019.
On his Facebook page Masagos reported meeting the Governor of Makkah, HRH Prince Khaled bin Faisal Al Saud as well as his son, the Deputy Governor of Madinah, HRH Prince Saud bin Khalid Al Faisal.
"The governors play an important role in overseeing the building of infrastructure and operations for Hajj and umrah pilgrims, which has seen remarkable improvement over the years. In particular, the expansion of the Masjid al Haram and holy sites has enabled a larger number of Muslims to perform their religious obligations with comfort and security," he said on Facebook.
"I was pleased to hear of praises from the governors on our Singaporean pilgrims, in terms of observing good etiquette and respecting the rules in-placed for their own well-being and welfare. I hope our Singaporean pilgrims will continue to fly our flag high in the years to come."
In Madinah, KSA, Masagos is scheduled to engage Singaporean students in a dialogue.
This is Masagos’ first Haj Ministerial Meeting as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. He will be accompanied by the Chief Executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Haji Abdul Razak Hassan Maricar, the Deputy Chief Executive of Muis, Esa Masood, and other senior officials.
Esa is due to take over from Haji Abdul Razak in 2019.
Wednesday, 26 December 2018
Malaysia announces details of 2019 electricity rebates for qualified eKasih members
The Malaysia government through the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) has provided RM80 million to provide electricity rebates of RM40 to 185,000 needy households, as registered and certified in the eKasih system.
The rebates are part of a government assistance programme specifically targeted relevant eKasih members. This is in line with the government's intention to ensure the welfare and quality of life of the people as stated in Budget 2019 on 2 November 2018.
If electricity consumption is below RM40 per month, for example, the household is automatically receives an electricity bill of zero. If electricity usage exceeds RM40 a month, the head of the household needs to pay the bill, less RM40.
Details:
Consumers can check for eKasih eligibility and if they qualify for electric bill rebates at the MESTECC Portal or by calling My Government Call Center (MyGCC) at 03 8000 8000.
Consumers can also check eligibility at Tenaga Nasional (TNB) by contacting their Careline at 1300 88 5454 or checking directly with Energy Stores.
The local hotline for Sabah Electricity (SESB) is 0885 1 5000/5454 and for consumers in Sarawak, the local Sarawak Energy (SEB) customer care line is 1300 88 3111.
For eligible eKasih users but do not have a registered account with TNB, SESB or SEB, the user can declare a third party account by filling out the application form at any of the nearest TNB, SESB or SEB office with a copy of their identity card as a supporting document.
For users who are not eligible after the review is made and wish to enroll in the eKasih programme, users can refer to the Federal Development Office/Federal Development Department (PPPN/JPP) Unit Penyelarasan Perlaksanaan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (ICU JPM) at state level and at the District Office Development Unit. EKasih data is collected during census exercises and through registration at PPPN/JPP offices of ICU JPM at state level.
The RM40 Electric Rebate Rebate Program runs from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. This programme replaces the RM20 Electric Rebate Program which ends in December 2018.
The rebates are part of a government assistance programme specifically targeted relevant eKasih members. This is in line with the government's intention to ensure the welfare and quality of life of the people as stated in Budget 2019 on 2 November 2018.
If electricity consumption is below RM40 per month, for example, the household is automatically receives an electricity bill of zero. If electricity usage exceeds RM40 a month, the head of the household needs to pay the bill, less RM40.
Details:
Consumers can check for eKasih eligibility and if they qualify for electric bill rebates at the MESTECC Portal or by calling My Government Call Center (MyGCC) at 03 8000 8000.
Consumers can also check eligibility at Tenaga Nasional (TNB) by contacting their Careline at 1300 88 5454 or checking directly with Energy Stores.
The local hotline for Sabah Electricity (SESB) is 0885 1 5000/5454 and for consumers in Sarawak, the local Sarawak Energy (SEB) customer care line is 1300 88 3111.
For eligible eKasih users but do not have a registered account with TNB, SESB or SEB, the user can declare a third party account by filling out the application form at any of the nearest TNB, SESB or SEB office with a copy of their identity card as a supporting document.
For users who are not eligible after the review is made and wish to enroll in the eKasih programme, users can refer to the Federal Development Office/Federal Development Department (PPPN/JPP) Unit Penyelarasan Perlaksanaan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (ICU JPM) at state level and at the District Office Development Unit. EKasih data is collected during census exercises and through registration at PPPN/JPP offices of ICU JPM at state level.
The RM40 Electric Rebate Rebate Program runs from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. This programme replaces the RM20 Electric Rebate Program which ends in December 2018.
Friday, 21 December 2018
NUS releases catalogue for first half of 2019
NUS Press has released its catalogue for January to June 2019.
One of the highlighted books is Islam, Humanity and Indonesian Identity, which Mark Woodward of Arizona State University's Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict says is "...a stunning, and yet hopeful, critique of Indonesian political
culture and global capitalism...This is not just a book about religion
and politics in Indonesia. It is a major contribution to political
philosophy."
In the book Ahmad Syafii Maarif argues for an understanding that is both faithful to Islam's essential teachings and open to constantly changing social and cultural contexts.
 |
| Source: NUS Press eDM. Cover for Islam, Humanity and Indonesian Identity. |
In the book Ahmad Syafii Maarif argues for an understanding that is both faithful to Islam's essential teachings and open to constantly changing social and cultural contexts.
He addresses contemporary issues such as democracy, human rights, religious freedom, the status of women, and the future of Islam.
Details:
View the catalogue on ISSUU or download the soft copy.
Islam, Humanity and Indonesian Identity
Available 30 January, 2019
US$25
View the catalogue on ISSUU or download the soft copy.
Islam, Humanity and Indonesian Identity
Available 30 January, 2019
US$25
Thursday, 13 December 2018
View Minimalist pieces inspired by Islamic geometric art
 |
| (3R+2B)SW. |
Held in Singapore and organised by National Gallery Singapore in collaboration with ArtScience Museum, Singapore, the exhibition features seminal artworks in the Minimalism movement from the 1950s to the present day. Visitors to the exhibition can view over 100 major works by 70 artists, including Donald Judd, Mark Rothko, Mona Hatoum, Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, Olafur Eliasson and Haegue Yang.
 |
| Detail, Basant. |
Industrial materials, natural materials and repetitive shapes are some of the hallmarks of Minimalism. Materials evolved in the post-Minimalist period towards the use of soft and more fluid materials. Gravity and chance could play a part in the work.
Details:
View pictures of exhibits on Facebook
Minimalism: Space. Light. Object.
Till 14 April 2019
At dual venues: Concourse Galleries and Singtel Special Exhibition Galleries at the National Gallery and at the ArtScience Museum, which houses the larger installations
There are two audio tours available at the National Gallery: Minimalism Highlights, and The More You Look At It.
Book a ticket
Hashtag: #minimalismsg
*The guided tour was sponsored by Singtel.
First-ever Indonesia Muslim Travel Index names Lombok as key destination for halal tourism
- Indonesia launches travel index* to position as itself a leader in the US$220 billion Muslim travel marke
- The Mastercard-CrescentRating Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2018 benchmarks 10 Indonesian provinces on their readiness to welcome Muslim tourists
- IMTI reveals that Lombok, Aceh, and Jakarta as key destinations for halal tourism
The Mastercard-CrescentRating Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2018 has been launched in Jakarta by Pak Arief Yahya, Minister of Tourism, Indonesia, with the aim of-fast tracking the development of its provinces to welcome Muslim tourists. The country has a target of welcoming 5 million Muslim tourists in 2019.
The IMTI benchmarks Indonesian provinces in four strategic areas – access, communications, environment and services – and tracks the health and the growth of the travel segment across the country. The 10 provinces covered in this years’ index are Aceh, the Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi and Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara). The IMTI is part of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) Series of reports.
The inaugural IMTI reveals that Lombok, Aceh, and Jakarta are new key destinations for halal tourism.
In 2016, a Halal Tourism Acceleration and Development Team was set up by the Ministry of Tourism in Indonesia to address the development and promotion of halal travel in the country amidst rising competition from other countries developing their own halal tourism initiatives. Indonesia has worked to develop infrastructure and services to attract the Muslim tourist and has consistently improved its global position in the GMTI, from 6th place in 2015 to 2nd place in 2018.
Best known for its pristine beaches and home to over a thousand mosques, Lombok has been at the forefront of developing the destination for halal tourism. The regional authorities have shown strong commitment to educate the stakeholders and promote the destination as a Muslim-friendly destination.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said, “IMTI is an important milestone to achieve the halal tourism target by 2019, including becoming the No. 1 halal destination and attracting 5 million foreign Muslim travelers, 25% of the overall 2019 foreign visitor target.”
Global Muslim traveller expenditure is projected to reach US$220 billion in 2020 according to GMTI 2018. It is expected to grow a further US$80 billion to hit US$300 billion by 2026. In 2017, there were an estimated 131 million Muslim visitor arrivals globally - up from 121 million in 2016 - and this is forecast to grow to 156 million visitors by 2020, representing 10% of the global travel segment.
Halal tourism is key to Indonesia’s economic growth and it is prospected to be the country’s biggest foreign exchange source in the future. The travel index highlighted recommendations for innovation and growth in the Muslim travel segment in Indonesia. Recommendations included improving connectivity and infrastructure as well as building online content and resources to attract more international tourists, while improving the country’s overall global halal destination branding.
“Given its natural beauty and cultural richness, tourism offers a huge growth opportunity for Indonesia. With its standing as the world’s most populous Muslim country, Indonesia has the core infrastructure and environment in place to cater to the needs of Muslim travelers. IMTI 2018 insights will enable the regions within Indonesia to build on their strengths to better cater to the requirements of Muslim travelers," said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating & HalalTrip.
“Mastercard and CrescentRating have collaborated since 2015 to create a suite of comprehensive research material offering invaluable insights on the halal travel sector. These in turn enable governments and the tourism industry to better cater to the needs of Muslim travelers. Indonesia has done a wonderful job in enhancing the country’s tourism landscape and infrastructure. The IMTI is an innovative partnership between the public and private sector which aims to empower provinces with the information they need to continuously improve their local travel industry,” said Safdar Khan, Division President Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, Mastercard.
- The Mastercard-CrescentRating Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2018 benchmarks 10 Indonesian provinces on their readiness to welcome Muslim tourists
- IMTI reveals that Lombok, Aceh, and Jakarta as key destinations for halal tourism
 | |
| Source: Crescentrating website. IMTI 2018 report cover. |
The IMTI benchmarks Indonesian provinces in four strategic areas – access, communications, environment and services – and tracks the health and the growth of the travel segment across the country. The 10 provinces covered in this years’ index are Aceh, the Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi and Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara). The IMTI is part of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) Series of reports.
The inaugural IMTI reveals that Lombok, Aceh, and Jakarta are new key destinations for halal tourism.
In 2016, a Halal Tourism Acceleration and Development Team was set up by the Ministry of Tourism in Indonesia to address the development and promotion of halal travel in the country amidst rising competition from other countries developing their own halal tourism initiatives. Indonesia has worked to develop infrastructure and services to attract the Muslim tourist and has consistently improved its global position in the GMTI, from 6th place in 2015 to 2nd place in 2018.
Best known for its pristine beaches and home to over a thousand mosques, Lombok has been at the forefront of developing the destination for halal tourism. The regional authorities have shown strong commitment to educate the stakeholders and promote the destination as a Muslim-friendly destination.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said, “IMTI is an important milestone to achieve the halal tourism target by 2019, including becoming the No. 1 halal destination and attracting 5 million foreign Muslim travelers, 25% of the overall 2019 foreign visitor target.”
Global Muslim traveller expenditure is projected to reach US$220 billion in 2020 according to GMTI 2018. It is expected to grow a further US$80 billion to hit US$300 billion by 2026. In 2017, there were an estimated 131 million Muslim visitor arrivals globally - up from 121 million in 2016 - and this is forecast to grow to 156 million visitors by 2020, representing 10% of the global travel segment.
Halal tourism is key to Indonesia’s economic growth and it is prospected to be the country’s biggest foreign exchange source in the future. The travel index highlighted recommendations for innovation and growth in the Muslim travel segment in Indonesia. Recommendations included improving connectivity and infrastructure as well as building online content and resources to attract more international tourists, while improving the country’s overall global halal destination branding.
“Given its natural beauty and cultural richness, tourism offers a huge growth opportunity for Indonesia. With its standing as the world’s most populous Muslim country, Indonesia has the core infrastructure and environment in place to cater to the needs of Muslim travelers. IMTI 2018 insights will enable the regions within Indonesia to build on their strengths to better cater to the requirements of Muslim travelers," said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating & HalalTrip.
“Mastercard and CrescentRating have collaborated since 2015 to create a suite of comprehensive research material offering invaluable insights on the halal travel sector. These in turn enable governments and the tourism industry to better cater to the needs of Muslim travelers. Indonesia has done a wonderful job in enhancing the country’s tourism landscape and infrastructure. The IMTI is an innovative partnership between the public and private sector which aims to empower provinces with the information they need to continuously improve their local travel industry,” said Safdar Khan, Division President Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, Mastercard.
IMTI 2018 Rank
|
Province
|
Score
|
1
|
Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara)
|
58
|
2
|
Aceh
|
57
|
2
|
Jakarta
|
56
|
4
|
West Sumatra
|
55<
|
5
|
Yogyakarta
|
51
|
7
|
West Java
|
51
|
6
|
Riau Islands
|
50
|
8
|
East Java
|
48
|
9
|
Central Java
|
47
|
10
|
South Sulawesi
|
30
|
Details:
Read the report
Explore:
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about building a halal-friendly tourism industry in Indonesia
Hashtag: #IMTI2018
*Key metrics for IMTI 2018 include access, which comprises of infrastructure; communications, which looks at how destinations market themselves to the target audience; environment, one which is welcoming of Muslim visitors; and services. Each criterion is then weighted to make up the overall index score.
Read the report
Explore:
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about building a halal-friendly tourism industry in Indonesia
Hashtag: #IMTI2018
*Key metrics for IMTI 2018 include access, which comprises of infrastructure; communications, which looks at how destinations market themselves to the target audience; environment, one which is welcoming of Muslim visitors; and services. Each criterion is then weighted to make up the overall index score.
AM Best analyses Solidarity Bahrain
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of B++ (good) and the long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” for Solidarity Bahrain.The outlook of the FSR is stable, while the outlook of the long-term ICR is positive, the ratings agency said.
The ratings reflect Solidarity Bahrain’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also factor in rating enhancement, reflecting Solidarity Bahrain’s strategic importance to its ultimate parent company, Solidarity Group Holding, a provider of Islamic insurance solutions in Bahrain and Jordan.
The positive outlook reflects the potential benefits of an enhanced business profile for the Solidarity group following the integration of Al Ahlia Insurance Company (AAIC) into its operations.
AM Best expects Solidarity Bahrain’s operating performance to remain adequate, benefitting from corrective actions taken by management to improve the profitability of AAIC’s legacy operations through strengthened underwriting practices and more stringent risk selection. Furthermore, de-risking of Solidarity Bahrain’s investment portfolio is expected to result in greater earnings stability over the medium term.
Solidarity Bahrain was formed following the merger between AAIC and Solidarity General Takaful on 3 December 2017, creating a leading insurer in the Bahraini insurance market by gross written contribution. However, Solidarity Bahrain’s business profile remains limited by its concentration in Bahrain’s insurance market, which is relatively small and highly competitive, AM Best said.
Details:
Read AM Best's financial strength rating guide (PDF)
The ratings reflect Solidarity Bahrain’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also factor in rating enhancement, reflecting Solidarity Bahrain’s strategic importance to its ultimate parent company, Solidarity Group Holding, a provider of Islamic insurance solutions in Bahrain and Jordan.
The positive outlook reflects the potential benefits of an enhanced business profile for the Solidarity group following the integration of Al Ahlia Insurance Company (AAIC) into its operations.
AM Best expects Solidarity Bahrain’s operating performance to remain adequate, benefitting from corrective actions taken by management to improve the profitability of AAIC’s legacy operations through strengthened underwriting practices and more stringent risk selection. Furthermore, de-risking of Solidarity Bahrain’s investment portfolio is expected to result in greater earnings stability over the medium term.
Solidarity Bahrain was formed following the merger between AAIC and Solidarity General Takaful on 3 December 2017, creating a leading insurer in the Bahraini insurance market by gross written contribution. However, Solidarity Bahrain’s business profile remains limited by its concentration in Bahrain’s insurance market, which is relatively small and highly competitive, AM Best said.
Details:
Read AM Best's financial strength rating guide (PDF)
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Muis announces S$2.5 million disbursement for the needy
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) will disburse over S$2.5 million through the annual year-end disbursement (YED) exercise which comprises bonuses and back-to-school vouchers and activities to 4,459 low-income families across Singapore.
This payout is to eligible families receiving monthly financial assistance from Muis. The YED is in addition to the monthly assistance received by zakat recipients, supplementing other national assistance schemes for the disadvantaged.
This increase in YED as well as number of recipients is made possible by the revisions made to the per capita income (PCI) eligibility criteria in September 2018. The YED aims to supplement expenses for families with school-going children before the school term starts in January 2019.
Zakat-receiving children under the financial assistance scheme who have been actively participating in core programmes at the mosques will also be receiving back-to-school kits or vouchers. These will be distributed islandwide at selected mosques until end-December.
The children also benefit from enrichment programmes such as learning journeys, team-building and motivational talks under the Back-To-School Activities programme which was piloted in 2017.
A total of 1,724 children will benefit from the back-to-school component (voucher and activities) with an allocation of S$163,650. This is 15% less than the S$192,670 from last year due to the number of eligible children decreasing by 14.2%.
Close to S$400,00 will be disbursed to families with children aged 18 years old and below, as part of the yearly Reqab (Study) Bonus. Some 5,420 children will benefit from this bonus. Those with one eligible child can receive S$100 whereas families with two or more eligible children will receive S$70 per child.
This payout is to eligible families receiving monthly financial assistance from Muis. The YED is in addition to the monthly assistance received by zakat recipients, supplementing other national assistance schemes for the disadvantaged.
This increase in YED as well as number of recipients is made possible by the revisions made to the per capita income (PCI) eligibility criteria in September 2018. The YED aims to supplement expenses for families with school-going children before the school term starts in January 2019.
Zakat-receiving children under the financial assistance scheme who have been actively participating in core programmes at the mosques will also be receiving back-to-school kits or vouchers. These will be distributed islandwide at selected mosques until end-December.
The children also benefit from enrichment programmes such as learning journeys, team-building and motivational talks under the Back-To-School Activities programme which was piloted in 2017.
A total of 1,724 children will benefit from the back-to-school component (voucher and activities) with an allocation of S$163,650. This is 15% less than the S$192,670 from last year due to the number of eligible children decreasing by 14.2%.
Close to S$400,00 will be disbursed to families with children aged 18 years old and below, as part of the yearly Reqab (Study) Bonus. Some 5,420 children will benefit from this bonus. Those with one eligible child can receive S$100 whereas families with two or more eligible children will receive S$70 per child.
Monday, 10 December 2018
Singapore halal exports to get boost with new Muis accreditation
Singapore businesses venturing overseas will get to enjoy wider and faster market access for halal products. This is made possible by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 17065 certification, the latest accreditation received by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
ISO 17065 is an international standard on conformity assessment for bodies certifying products, process and services.
This new accreditation is an endorsement of Muis’ integrity and technical competence in halal product certification. In general, Muis has seen a 10% annual increase in the number of applications for halal certification over the last five years.
In 2017 alone, Muis certified close to 5,000 premises and 55,000 types of products made in Singapore. These products ranged from ready-to-eat meals to sauces. For export purposes, products certified halal by Muis are accepted by markets worldwide including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Europe, South Africa and the US.
Singapore itself has retained its position as the top non-OIC halal-friendly destination under the Mastercard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index – a US$220 billion market.
Director of Asset Policy and Industry Development of Muis Dewi Hartaty Suratty said: “Muis has successfully attained accreditation under ISO 17065, an internationally-known standard, for its halal product certification. With this accreditation, we hope that Singapore businesses venturing overseas can have better competitive edge and greater market access for their halal products.
"As for consumers, they can be assured that the Muis halal certification process is carried out in a competent, impartial and reliable manner.”
From 15 October 2018, businesses can also apply for and manage their Muis halal application and certification via the LicenseOne portal. Under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), Muis is vested with the sole legal powers to issue halal certificates in Singapore.
ISO 17065 is an international standard on conformity assessment for bodies certifying products, process and services.
This new accreditation is an endorsement of Muis’ integrity and technical competence in halal product certification. In general, Muis has seen a 10% annual increase in the number of applications for halal certification over the last five years.
In 2017 alone, Muis certified close to 5,000 premises and 55,000 types of products made in Singapore. These products ranged from ready-to-eat meals to sauces. For export purposes, products certified halal by Muis are accepted by markets worldwide including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Europe, South Africa and the US.
Singapore itself has retained its position as the top non-OIC halal-friendly destination under the Mastercard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index – a US$220 billion market.
Director of Asset Policy and Industry Development of Muis Dewi Hartaty Suratty said: “Muis has successfully attained accreditation under ISO 17065, an internationally-known standard, for its halal product certification. With this accreditation, we hope that Singapore businesses venturing overseas can have better competitive edge and greater market access for their halal products.
"As for consumers, they can be assured that the Muis halal certification process is carried out in a competent, impartial and reliable manner.”
From 15 October 2018, businesses can also apply for and manage their Muis halal application and certification via the LicenseOne portal. Under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), Muis is vested with the sole legal powers to issue halal certificates in Singapore.
Thursday, 6 December 2018
Muis announces new chief executive
 | |
| Source: Muis. Esa (left) with Hj Abdul Razak (right). |
Retiring Chief Executive Hj Abdul Razak Maricar has prepared for transition and renewal as the council embarks on its 6th three-year plan (6M3YP), which also coincides with the end of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Said Hj Abdul Razak, “Succession planning has always been a priority in on Muis, as it strives to ensure continuity in service while adapting to changing context and needs for the nation and the Singaporean Muslim community.
"Over the years Muis has stabilised and strengthened its processes and programmes, and established strong relationships with its partners, stakeholders and the community. For this to continue, Muis needs to maintain a strong team, recruiting new talent at all levels in the organisation. I have confidence in my staff, in particular the management team which Muis has built over time.”
Esa Masood, currently Muis Deputy Chief Executive, has held leadership positions in organisations such as the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education and the Early Childhood Development Agency. He will take over from Hj Abdul Razak as of January 2019.
Esa joined Muis in late 2017, and, under the guidance of Hj Razak and the rest of his colleagues, has been handed oversight over key sectors such as the mosque, social development and Islamic education.
Said Esa, “I have been very fortunate to have benefited from the mentorship of Hj Abduk Razak and his wealth of experience during my time in Muis, and I also benefited from Mufti and the Muis senior management.
"We will continue to work together with the Muslim community, through our various platforms, to strengthen the community’s religious life. We also hope to further strengthen ties with other faith communities as part of a multiracial and multicultural Singapore that we hold very dear to us.”
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
Global halal market expected to boom
The global halal market was valued at US$5.73 trillion in 2016 and is expected to grow due to a rising Muslim population, rising spend and increasing availability of halal products and services.
The Islamic finance sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years with the emergence of crowd funding platforms including Human Crescent. Lack of awareness has resulted in an enormous opportunity for products and services offered by this segment. The segment is likely to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2017 to 2024, says Hexa Research.
Speedy growth of economies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are expected to augment the growth of the market owing to the presence of a large Muslim population. These economies are likely to emerge as popular destinations for food and fashion. The Middle East halal market is expected to witness a double-digit growth generating revenues of US$6.53 trillion by 2024.
The demand for qualified halal products among non-Muslim customers has been on the upsurge as more consumers are looking for high superiority, safe and righteous products*. Non-Muslim consumers in Asia Pacific are likely to play a vital role in driving the regional market making it the second largest marketplace after the Middle East, contributing to 30.9% of the global revenues by 2024.
The Islamic economy is being driven primarily by the increasing youth population with high disposable incomes. These factors are likely to drive segments of the halal market such as fashion, food, finance, travel, as well as media and recreation.
Several food companies including KFC and Nestle are already offering halal products to their Muslim consumers. The emergence of Islamic finance institutions offering finance and banking assets are expected to provide further impetus to businesses that are focusing on venturing into the halal industry
Key players analysed include:
• Diana Kotb
• INAYAH
• Al-Rajhi Bank
• Al-Salam Bank
• MMA Bio Lab
• Ivy Beauty Corporation
• Nema Food Company
• Midamar
• Chemical Company of Malaysia (CCM Pharmaceuticals)
• Pharmaniaga
Details:
Buy the Halal Market Size and Forecast, By Product (Food & Beverages, Travel, Media & Recreation, Finance, Fashion, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics), And Trend Analysis, 2014 To 2024 report
The Islamic finance sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years with the emergence of crowd funding platforms including Human Crescent. Lack of awareness has resulted in an enormous opportunity for products and services offered by this segment. The segment is likely to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2017 to 2024, says Hexa Research.
Speedy growth of economies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are expected to augment the growth of the market owing to the presence of a large Muslim population. These economies are likely to emerge as popular destinations for food and fashion. The Middle East halal market is expected to witness a double-digit growth generating revenues of US$6.53 trillion by 2024.
The demand for qualified halal products among non-Muslim customers has been on the upsurge as more consumers are looking for high superiority, safe and righteous products*. Non-Muslim consumers in Asia Pacific are likely to play a vital role in driving the regional market making it the second largest marketplace after the Middle East, contributing to 30.9% of the global revenues by 2024.
The Islamic economy is being driven primarily by the increasing youth population with high disposable incomes. These factors are likely to drive segments of the halal market such as fashion, food, finance, travel, as well as media and recreation.
Several food companies including KFC and Nestle are already offering halal products to their Muslim consumers. The emergence of Islamic finance institutions offering finance and banking assets are expected to provide further impetus to businesses that are focusing on venturing into the halal industry
Key players analysed include:
• Diana Kotb
• INAYAH
• Al-Rajhi Bank
• Al-Salam Bank
• MMA Bio Lab
• Ivy Beauty Corporation
• Nema Food Company
• Midamar
• Chemical Company of Malaysia (CCM Pharmaceuticals)
• Pharmaniaga
 |
| Source: Hexa Research website. Global halal market revenue, 2014 - 2024 (US$ trillion) |
Details:
Buy the Halal Market Size and Forecast, By Product (Food & Beverages, Travel, Media & Recreation, Finance, Fashion, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics), And Trend Analysis, 2014 To 2024 report
Agoda, KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah MoU to benefit pilgrims
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| Source: PRNewsfoto/Agoda. Agoda and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sign MoU to achieve Vision 2030 goal of 30 million pilgrims. The agreement was signed on 3 December, 2018 by HE Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, the KSA minister of Hajj and Umrah (right) in the presence of Damien Pfirsch, VP Strategic Partnerships & Programs Agoda. |
Agoda, the online travel agents (OTA), and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in KSA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) supporting the KSA Vision 2030 goal to increase its capacity to over 30 million pilgrims by utilising Agoda's technology and travel expertise, marketing platform capabilities, intelligence tools and resources.
There is now a dedicated Agoda portal to access selected hotels that have been certified by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for umrah visitors and pilgrim bookings. Pilgrims can easily find an array of accommodation options and securely book through the multilingual and multicurrency portal.
Under the MoU, the first to be signed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with a global OTA, the parties will explore how together they will redefine the future of travel for pilgrims from across the world to the kingdom, working in collaboration to help to build future services including guest flow and booking accommodation.
The MoU will leverage the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's knowledge and understanding of the needs of pilgrims to the holy cities and Agoda's technology expertise, to enable the partners to explore ways to use technology to manage the anticipated increase in guests to KSA and make accommodation reservations more accessible, easier, faster and secure.
John Brown, CEO, Agoda, said: "With Agoda's expertise in accommodation and travel services, global distribution services, e-marketing and digital branding we want to be a key partner helping them to achieve their goals of accommodating 30 million umrah and Hajj guests to the kingdom."
According to Vision 2030, which was announced in 2016, the last decade has seen the number of umrah visitors and pilgrims entering the country from abroad treble. Pilgrimages play a significant role in KSA's tourism industry, with the government aiming to grow this sector to 15 million Hajj and umrah visitors annually by 2020, and 30 million by 2030.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings and employs more than 3,700 staff across 53 cities in more than 30 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 38 languages.
Sunday, 2 December 2018
Al Joud Boutique Hotel offers better than three-star value
The opening of Al Joud Boutique Hotel in Makkah, KSA is just one of several J/Brice Design International
engagements in the kingdom that include the first Kempinski Hotel,
several eateries, family entertainment venues, and a royal family villa.
Said Jeffrey Brice Ornstein, whose firm is based in Jeddah, KSA and Boston in the US, "Since the pilgrimage is the holiest event for devout Muslims who come from all walks of life, we wanted guests enjoy an upscale feeling during their often once-in a lifetime journey. We've succeeded by creating an upscale 21st century environment for a global market that serves guests from both wealthy and poorer countries."
While rated at three stars, hospitality insiders report that the 124-guestroom hotel, located among pricier properties, offers superior finishes, fixtures and amenities and delivers greater value than other comparably rated hotels in the vicinity of the Ka'abah and other religious sites.
"An Arabian motif is carried out throughout the property in natural, high-end materials—walnut, alabaster and marble. Contemporary crystal lighting fixtures add elegance to a lobby furnished with inviting upholstered pieces in understated sand and desert sunset hues. Custom carpeting repeats the patterns in umber and orange tones set against a marble floor, all of which draw upon the palate of Arabian sunsets," explained Ornstein.
J/Brice directed the interior design of the Kempinski Towers that opened in Al Khobar, KSA in 2015 as well as The Grand Heritage Hotel and Spa in Doha, Qatar. Ornstein added, "Over a dozen years ago we made a strong commitment to the Arab world. We developed a sensitivity to the region, absorbing everything from religion, classic art, music and design to popular culture. Being asked to design a hotel whose primary goal is to appeal to devout Muslims is an honor and culmination of our ability to internalise the Arabian sensibilities and aesthetics."
Said Jeffrey Brice Ornstein, whose firm is based in Jeddah, KSA and Boston in the US, "Since the pilgrimage is the holiest event for devout Muslims who come from all walks of life, we wanted guests enjoy an upscale feeling during their often once-in a lifetime journey. We've succeeded by creating an upscale 21st century environment for a global market that serves guests from both wealthy and poorer countries."
While rated at three stars, hospitality insiders report that the 124-guestroom hotel, located among pricier properties, offers superior finishes, fixtures and amenities and delivers greater value than other comparably rated hotels in the vicinity of the Ka'abah and other religious sites.
"An Arabian motif is carried out throughout the property in natural, high-end materials—walnut, alabaster and marble. Contemporary crystal lighting fixtures add elegance to a lobby furnished with inviting upholstered pieces in understated sand and desert sunset hues. Custom carpeting repeats the patterns in umber and orange tones set against a marble floor, all of which draw upon the palate of Arabian sunsets," explained Ornstein.
J/Brice directed the interior design of the Kempinski Towers that opened in Al Khobar, KSA in 2015 as well as The Grand Heritage Hotel and Spa in Doha, Qatar. Ornstein added, "Over a dozen years ago we made a strong commitment to the Arab world. We developed a sensitivity to the region, absorbing everything from religion, classic art, music and design to popular culture. Being asked to design a hotel whose primary goal is to appeal to devout Muslims is an honor and culmination of our ability to internalise the Arabian sensibilities and aesthetics."
Saturday, 1 December 2018
APAC to drive global halal cosmetics and personal care market through to 2022
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| Source: Technavio, via Businesswire. Infographic on the global halal cosmetics and personal care market 2018-2022. |
Technavio forecasts that the global halal cosmetics and personal care market to grow at a CAGR of 13.55% from 2018 to 2022. To calculate market size, the company considered the revenue generated from the sales of halal cosmetics and personal care through online and offline channels.
A key factor driving growth is the rising Muslim population worldwide. Technavio said an increase in demand from the growing Muslim population and rising awareness of halal cosmetics and personal care products are pushing demand up. Improved standardisation and certifications are another market driver.
A key factor driving growth is the rising Muslim population worldwide. Technavio said an increase in demand from the growing Muslim population and rising awareness of halal cosmetics and personal care products are pushing demand up. Improved standardisation and certifications are another market driver.
As the Asia Pacific region (APAC) is home to more than 55% of the Muslim population, the region is experiencing a relatively higher demand for halal cosmetics and personal care products. EMEA led the market in 2017 with a global halal cosmetics and personal care market share of close to 52%. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth, while the other two regions will witness a decline in their market shares.
Brands listed in the report include:
- Amara Halal Cosmetics
- Ivy Beauty Corporation
- Martha Tilaar Group
- PT Paragon Technology and Innovation, the parent company for Wardah
- Total Beauty Network, parent company of Inika
- WiproEL
“Presently, Millennial Muslim consumers are becoming conscious of their looks and appearance, propelling an interest in personal grooming among young men. This expands the consumer base of the market. Therefore, the interest in personal grooming is expected to spike the volume sales of halal cosmetics and personal care products during the forecast period,” says a senior analyst at Technavio.
As halal cosmetics and personal care become more popular, the counterfeiters will also have a field day, Technavio warns.
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