Taiwan wants to expand global halal market share

A delegation led by Taiwan Council of Agriculture Minister Lin Tsung-hsien visited several retailers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that have been selling Taiwan-produced agricultural products in early March.

The trip comes under the umbrella of the New Southbound Policy, launched by the government of Taiwan in 2016. The policy focuses on strengthening ties with neighbors in South and Southeast Asia.

The delegation aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the local consumer demand and actual sales volume, especially for expanding Taiwanese market share in the halal market. The Council said it is planning to organise delegations to several halal events in Southeast Asia such as the 2018 Malaysia International Halal Showcase in early April as well as 2019 Fi Asia in Thailand from September 11 to 13.


Lin and his delegation also visited local supermarkets such as Aeon at Mid Valley Megamall to find out if Taiwan’s agricultural products are popular.

Lin said the total value of trade between Taiwan and Malaysia in agricultural products in 2017 has reached US$205 million, a 5.44% increase from 2016, adding that Taiwan's exports to Malaysia also sees an 8.87% jump compared to the previous year. The export products were mainly processed grain foods, pastry, fish, and shellfish.
Lin noted that Malaysia is an indispensable trading partner to Taiwan. Besides existing exports goods, Taiwan's Mitagri exported 22 metric tons of the atemoya (释迦, pineapple sugar apple, custard apple) to Malaysia, as of the end of January 2018, said the Council. Atemoya exports are expected to reach 40 metric tons in 2018.

Source: Council of Agriculture, Taiwan. Council of Agriculture Minister Lin Tsung-hsien (left) and Mitagri Company Chairman Chen Yu-jan hold atemoyas from Taiwan during a visit to a local supermarket as part of a business trip to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, an agricultural research and extension in Taitung, eastern Taiwan supervised by the Council has developed new shipping methods especially in food preservation and storage to ensure the quality of exported products.

Qatar invests in new dairy industry

Qatar Airways Cargo, the cargo division of Qatar’s national carrier, has transported the country’s first two shipments of 330 Holstein cows from Europe on a Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777 freighter. These initial shipments are part of a 4,000-head herd that marks the launch of a completely new industry for Qatar.

Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo said, “It is with utmost pride that we were given the opportunity to offer our expertise and services to support this momentous project. We are truly a part of history, helping launch the country’s newest industry, producing dairy products to meet local demand. The cattle charters involve a great deal of skill and coordination to ensure the flight from the points of origin to Doha was smooth and safe.

“With our extensive freighter fleet and state-of-the-art cargo facility at our Doha hub, we were able to meet our client Baladna Farm’s requirements with tailormade solutions to transport the cattle from various continents swiftly into Doha. Our dedicated team at Qatar Airways Cargo is well-trained and our QR Live product is fully-compliant with IATA’s Live Animal Regulations to ensure safe and comfortable air transportation of live animals.”

Source: Qatar Airways. Cows feeding.

The cargo carrier has been appointed to charter more than 20 cattle shipments from Europe, the US and Australia in the next few weeks. Upon arrival at Hamad International Airport (HIA), the cattle are carefully and efficiently transferred to Baladna Farm, a major livestock farm in Qatar.

Power International Holding Chairman Moutaz Al Khayyat said: “We are proud to expand the dairy industry in the State of Qatar, and are thankful to Qatar Airways Cargo for the expedient, safe and secure transportation of the cattle that have now safely arrived at their new home, Baladna Farm. With the arrival of the dairy cows, we aim to meet 30-35% of the imported milk demand in the country within two months.”

Baladna is a subsidiary of Power International Holding, a diversified Qatari company. Baladna has built special cowsheds with a temperature control system to ensure a comfortable environment for the cattle. Baladna Farm, built over 700,000 sq m, includes 40,000 Awassi sheep able to withstand high temperature and produce high-quality milk. The farm also houses 5,000 goats and an animal feed mill yielding 100 tonnes per day.

Qatar Airways Cargo recently attracted attention for undertaking a massive airlift of food and grocery items when a blockade was initiated by neighbouring countries on 5 June. This undertaking, arranged entirely by Qatar Airways Cargo, lasted several weeks and used its own fleet, as well as other leased aircraft. The cargo airline continues to connect its global customers’ businesses to over 150 destinations on 200 passenger and freighter aircraft.

Ranked the world’s third-largest international air cargo carrier, Qatar Airways Cargo has made significant investments in its fleet, network, its hub and products in recent years as part of its strategy and commitment to improve and enhance its product offering for the benefit of customers globally. The cargo carrier has performed charters for a variety of cargo including such as horses, cattle, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas products, art, concerts and exhibitions, machinery, mining and humanitarian relief goods.

ERC provides infrastructure in Palestine

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has reported that the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) organisation recently completed three development projects worth more than AED3.8 million in Palestine.

The projects include the construction of a two-storey and two-minaret mosque in Deir Qaddis west of Ramallah, to serve 1,200 worshippers; an additional storey for the girls' school in Deir Istiya town in the Salfit Governorate, to accommodate an additional 500 students; and 100 water wells to serve 100 farming families in villages in Hebron Governorate, southern West Bank.

Islamic Development Bank approves grants for projects in Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE

The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which met at in conjunction with the 39th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB, have approved US$447.6 million towards financing new development projects in a number of their 57 member countries.

Source: IDB.

The major part of the financing, US$304 million, went to the energy sector, including US$220 million for a power grid extension project in Bangladesh. Other approved financing includes US$87.5 million for the improvement of wastewater management and sanitary services in Al Ghadir Drainage Basin, Lebanon; as well as an additional US$25 million for the second phase of Queen Alia Airport Expansion Project, Jordan, raising the IDB financing for the Queen Alia airport expansion to US$125 million.

The members of the board further approved of IDB's continued contribution to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, UAE, as the centre represents a successful example of mutual cooperation between the Bank and the UAE. ICBA has developed into a research centre with an international team of scientists and researchers working on innovative solutions to improve the status of poor farmers and to implement development programmes aimed at upgrading productivity in agricultural regions. 

ICBA was launched at the initiative of the IDB, in recognition of the important role by the Gulf states in line with supporting the Bank. The Bank cooperated with the UAE in management and operating of ICBA until April 2010, when the responsibility was transferred to UAE's Ministry of Environment and Water.