Halal Expo Australia expands to three events in 2016

Source: Halal Expo Australia website.

Buoyed by the success of the first Halal Expo Australia in 2015, the organisers of Halal Expo Australia will have three events in 2016: Halal Expo Melbourne on 3 April, the International Halal Conference (IHC) 2016 on Saturday 9th of April at Novotel Hotel Darling Harbour Sydney; and Halal Expo Sydney on Sunday, 10th of April 2016 at Fairfield showground, Fairfield (Sydney) NSW.

The inaugural edition of Halal Expo Australia, held in Sydney, was held in April 2015 was met with much acclaim. More than 10,000 people attended the 100-exhibitor event, including a number of community leaders, local politicians and celebrities. The organisers subsequently received invitations from people in other states to organise the event in other cities. 

Halal Expo Australia aims to spread awareness about the significance of halal food, products and services among the growing population of the members of the Islamic community in Australia, and to those who do not possess clear or specific knowledge about the consumption of halal food or those who had never used any halal products and services

The first IHC is themed Islam, Halal Industry and Australia, and provides a forum for speakers to discuss and find resolutions on the issues in the larger interest of the Islamic community in Australia and the Pacific region. The speakers will talk about steps to enhance and strengthen the network of the halal industry and its products/services in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region while planning to widen the halal network to other countries and regions. They will make decisions and pass resolutions in connection with the furtherance of their goals of assisting halal industry players, manufacturers and retailers of halal products.

The IHC 2016 will also create awareness about the significance of halal products and services within and outside the Australian Islamic community. The Conference will provide experience and awareness to those who are not well versed or clear about the importance of halal products and services in multicultural Australia and how halal industry is playing a vital role in the Australian economy.

Key topics include:

The halal lifestyle
The science behind the halal slaughter practice
The importance of the role of Islamic scholars for the halal industry
Halal certification
Islamic finance – What is halal and haram
Halal banking and Investments
From indifference to Islamophobia – Australian Muslim responses
Islamic tourism and Muslim ummah (world)
Australian government and the halal Industry
The role of the halal industry in the Australian economy

The Director of Halal Expo Australia, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, is also the founding director of the Chand-Raat Eid Festival (CREF) which is held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Interested?

Halal Expo Melbourne 2016 will be held on 3 April 2016 from 10am to 8.30pm at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds. Tickets cost A$5 (children under 5 free). Get involved

The first IHC 2016 is on 9 April at Novotel Hotel Darling Harbour Sydney from 9am to 5pm; and 

Halal Expo Sydney is on 10 April at the Fairfield showground, Fairfield, Sydney, NSW. Tickets cost A$5 (children under 5 free). Get involved

PIA lowers umrah fares

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reduced fares on domestic and major international flights, including umrah fares. Fares on the Karachi-Islamabad-Karachi and Karachi-Lahore-Karachi routes would now start from Rs7,500 while return tickets for umrah start from Rs54,500 for passengers from Lahore/Islamabad, and from Rs44,500 for passengers from Karachi, the airline said.

PIA had been dealing with what it said was an illegal strike, and praised the teamwork of PIA employees in managing passengers in the face of resulting flight reductions. On 7 February the airline sent two Boeing 777 planes in collaboration with Saudi Airlines to Jeddah to bring back around 800 "umra zaireen", umrah pilgrims. This followed flights on 5 February to ferry about 700 Umra zaireen from Jeddah to Karachi and Islamabad via two Saudi Airlines flights.

PIA also made arrangements with Air Blue on 4 February to accept PIA's confirmed ticket passengers for flights to Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Dubai, Muscat, Jeddah and Riyadh. Arrangements had also been made with Shaheen Air to accept PIA's confirmed ticket passengers for domestic flights.

On 12 February PIA reported that its flight schedule has fully returned to normal within two days of ending the strike, expressing gratitude to customers for their confidence in the national carrier. PIA has also pledged to give full refunds for any international and domestic tickets that were not utilised during strike days.

Interested?

According to a Suroor Asia blog post, PIA had announced fare discounts for umrah in January 2016 

Emirates Islamic opens new forex counter at Al Maktoum International Airport

Source: Emirates Islamic. Emirates Islamic’s Foreign Exchange Counter at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.

Emirates Islamic today announced the opening of a foreign exchange (FX) counter at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The new FX counter, located at the airport’s departure lounge, will enable travellers and tourists to exchange up to 19 currencies at highly competitive rates.

In addition to Al Maktoum International Airport, the bank operates a FX counter at Port Rashid Cruise Terminal. Foreign exchange and remittance services are an important aspect of Emirates Islamic’s retail product suite, with the bank offering regular seasonal promotions and competitive rates on the currencies available.

Faisal Aqil, Deputy CEO - Consumer Wealth Management, Emirates Islamic, said: “Al Maktoum International Airport is becoming an increasingly busy destination and is expected to handle over 26 million passengers by 2017. We are extremely pleased to open an Emirates Islamic counter to serve the needs of travellers using the airport. As part of our strategy to expand our foreign exchange offerings, we plan to open more counters at high-traffic locations such as malls and airports, as well as continue offering the best offers and rates to our customers.”

Qatar Duty Free and Dolce&Gabbana present new display featuring an exclusive fragrance for the Middle East

Source: Qatar Duty Free. A new Dolce&Gabbana display features a 4m snow globe at Hamad International Airport that will be on display until 14 January 2016.

Qatar Duty Free welcomes the festive season with the installation of a Dolce&Gabbana display featuring a larger-than-life snow globe at Hamad International Airport (HIA). The snow globe, at four m high, is the centrepiece of a display showcasing Dolce&Gabbana’s products, and celebrates the launch of their newest fragrance for men, The One Royal Night. It will be on display until 14 January 2016.

The joint collaboration between Dolce&Gabbana and Qatar Duty Free offers plenty of options for passengers looking to buy a gift. Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Keith Hunter said: “Qatar Duty Free prides itself on offering passengers exclusive fragrances and beauty products, and this is no exception. This partnership not only marks the launch of The One Royal Night at HIA, but is an opportunity for Qatar Duty Free to offer customers the Dolce&Gabbana makeup and Velvet collections. We hope that those travelling from, and through, HIA will enjoy visiting the beautiful display and exploring some thoughtful and personalised gift ideas.”

Source: Qatar Duty Free. The One Royal Night for men is featured together with Velvet niche fragrance collection and D&G makeup.

The One Royal Night for men is an exclusive fragrance within Dolce&Gabbana’s Classic House, The One. The newest fragrance, with an Arabian twist, is an exclusive product from the designers for the Middle East, inspired by the richness, culture and traditions of the region.

The One Royal Night for men is described by Dolce&Gabbana as a blend of opulence and sophistication boasting a woody composition with notes of cardamom, basil, wild pear wood, and spicy nutmeg, followed by a base of cedar, sandalwood, labdanum* and pure amber in its most refined form. Qatar Duty Free will also offer a select number items from the Dolce&Gabbana makeup and niche fragrance collection, Velvet, for the first time at the display.

The Velvet Collection offered will include both 50ml and 150ml bottles of some of Dolce&Gabbana’s most popular niche fragrances such as Velvet Love, Velvet Patchouli, Desert Oud and Tender Oud.

Interested?

For all Dolce&Gabbana products purchased at the display personalised engraving and gift-wrapping will be offered free of charge. 

*Labdanum, also called laudanum, is a resin from shrubs called Cistus ladanifer and Cistus creticus.

New Islamic hedging product standard introduced

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) has announced the publication of a new Islamic hedging product standard, the ISDA/IIFM Himaayah Min Taqallub As‘aar Assarf (Islamic cross currency swap) for use in Islamic hedging transactions. The announcement was made at the IIFM 33rd Board of Directors meeting and workshop hosted by The National Commercial Bank at its Riyadh regional office.

The published confirmation template is part of an ISDA and IIFM plan to provide the Islamic finance industry with documentation and product templates to manage risk in transactions arising mainly from currency and profit rate mismatches. The Islamic Cross Currency Swap (ICRCS) template falls under the ISDA/IIFM Tahawwut (hedging) Master Agreement, a framework document that contains general terms and conditions, and early termination and closeout netting provisions between transacting parties.

One of the objectives of entering into a himaayah min taqallub as‘aar assarf would be to enable a party to raise funds through a shari’ah-compliant contract in one currency for a certain period of time against a shari’ah-compliant contract in another currency. Profit rate, tenor and amount are all agreed between the two parties at the start of the transaction. It is used to manage and mitigate currency and rate risks associated with investments, and is not intended for speculation.

“With the expansion of Islamic finance into new territories and an increase in cross-border activities, certain transactions are being exposed to fluctuations in currencies and rate-of-return mismatches. IIFM has been playing a pioneering role in the Islamic hedging segment and, at an early stage, undertook the challenge of developing global standards in collaboration with ISDA. I am confident our ongoing efforts will play a critical role in shaping the industry, particularly in view of new regulations being introduced in G-20 economies,” said Khalid Hamad, Chairman of IIFM.

“This is the latest in a series of product documentation releases aimed at standardizing the Islamic hedging market and helping participants to effectively manage their risk,” said Scott O’Malia, ISDA’s Chief Executive.

“The ICRCS standard has given the industry another standardised template for risk mitigation providing robust legal documentation, shari’ah harmonisation and sound operational practices. We are now seeing an increase in the utilisation of the ISDA/IIFM standard both among institutions and in particular jurisdictions,” said Ijlal Ahmed Alvi, Chief Executive Officer at IIFM.

ISSF 2015 sets out resolutions for strengthening the Islamic finance industry

The International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) has organised its 10th annual International Shariah Scholars Forum (ISSF 2015) in collaboration with the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah.

The main theme ISSF 2015, held in Malaysia, was Strengthening the Global Connectivity of the Islamic Finance Industry: Reality and Prospects. At the end of the event, Sheikh Dr al-Ayyashi Feddad, Senior Researcher representing IRTI, read out the resolutions of this year’s forum:

First, for ISSF

• ISSF 2015 proposes to set up a committee to evaluate the past ten years of ISSF, and to put forward a plan for the next ten years. 
• Coordination with relevant parties, including individuals and organisations, to further strengthen the ISSF. 
• Open more collaboration with other parties in organising the ISSF. 

Second: Regarding differing fatwas and their effect on strengthening the global connectivity of the Islamic finance industry

• Differing views and fatwas are positive phenomena if they are based on the principles of ijtihad in the shari'ah. 
• It is advisable to work on closing the gaps in fatwas in order to prevent contradictions in practical application and also to harmonise between the fatwas and the financial products. 
• Efforts are needed to further develop and strengthen shari'ah governance in the Islamic finance industry. 
• ISSF 2015 also recommends the establishment of a supreme council by supporting organisations such as the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), IFSB, IDB and CIBAFI, together with the International Fiqh Academy and IDB. This council would have its own shari'ah board and other technical boards. Its resolutions would be endorsed by the International Fiqh Academy in its position as the highest shari'ah reference for Muslim countries. 

Third: Regarding research institutes on Islamic economics and Islamic finance
effort should be made to cooperate on major projects and to plan research for the next ten years by identifying gaps that need to be filled and prioritising them.

• There is a need for cooperation in appraisal studies and in developing mechanisms to rate research on Islamic economics and finance. 
• The forum calls for the establishment of new research institutions for Islamic economics to pursue objectives and study areas that the existing research institutions are not dealing with in order to bring added value to the academic research. 
• Mechanisms should be established for competition among research institutions within a cooperative framework with the objective of improving their end products. 

Fourth: Regarding roducts

• Innovative solutions should be found for the Islamic finance industry, especially in the area of sukuk and working towards partnership-based financial instruments. 
• The forum calls for the study of successful international models of financing that are close to Islamic financing based on partnership or any interest-free financing modes. 
• Special attention should be given to Islamic sukuk as they are the most effective financial instruments in realising global connectivity at the supervisory level and in the capital markets. 
• Special attention should also be given to the products of the charitable sectors, particularly the zakah and waqf institutions. It is recommended that next year’s Forum be about establishing an international institution to coordinate between zakah organisations. 
• Work should be done on binding terms of reference for the members of shari'ah boards of Islamic financial institutions. 
• A working committee should be formed to lay down the principles of fatwa to ensure its stability and its linkage to other relevant areas such as legal, accounting and risk management. 
• Work should be done on a mechanism to coordinate between shari'ah boards in order to establish rules regarding governance of the boards and conflict of interest. The ISSF 2015 invites ISRA, IRTI, AAOIFI, IFSB and CIBAFI to propose a mechanism for its implementation.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the ISRA-Thomson Reuters Islamic Commercial Law Report 2016, which was launched during the event

ISRA, Thomson Reuters launch first joint Islamic Commercial Law Report

Source: ISRA.

The International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA) and Thomson Reuters, the provider of information for businesses and professionals, have launched an inaugural joint publication, Islamic Commercial Law Report 2016 at the International Shari’ah Scholars Forum (ISSF), organised by ISRA and the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) in Kuala Lumpur on 3 November 2015.

The Islamic finance industry has witnessed exponential growth over the last three decades, and has become one of the fastest growing segments of the global financial industry with estimates of the current market size ranging from US$1.66 trillion to US$2.1 trillion. One key factor that has contributed to this progressive development is the flexible nature of Islamic commercial law, which has imbued Islamic finance with the same flexibility, characterised by the legal maxim “the original ruling in Islamic financial transactions is permissibility”.

However, a legal ecosystem covering all dimensions of Islamic finance remains underdeveloped. There are few quick and easy references to the industry professionals without shari’ah background. Also, there are few links between research and activities of academics and practitioners.

To address this challenge, ISRA―an international research entity under the patronage of the Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM), in collaboration with Thomson Reuters―present the Islamic Commercial Law Report 2016, which highlights key areas, frameworks and approaches that are fundamental in shaping the development of a well-structured Islamic finance industry. The report is intended to be an annual publication assessing the key issues and trends in Islamic commercial law for the broader Islamic finance industry.

Nadim Najjar, Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa, Thomson Reuters, said: “Despite being one of the fastest growing segments of the global financial services industry, with assets in excess of US$1.8 trillion, the legal ecosystem around the industry remains underdeveloped. There are no resources for the industry to learn from the activities and innovations that are happening in different parts of the world. And there is little link between the research and activities of academics and practitioners. To play a small role in addressing this challenge, Thomson Reuters is proud to present the first Islamic Commercial Law Report in collaboration with our partners, the International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA).”

The report covers key areas including shari’ah governance, shari’ah standards and recent trends and fatwas. It provides practitioners with an annual guide to navigate the Islamic legal system and enhance the intellectual discourse of Islamic law into public policy. The report also highlights the latest innovations in Islamic finance structuring, interpretations of shariah law and innovation in Islamic legal thought. This will ensure that stakeholders are up to date with the latest innovation and development in this space, and will help in highlighting the impact of these developments in modern society.

Interested?

Read more about the publication
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about resolutions from ISSF 2015

posted from Bloggeroid

Arab Monetary Fund and International Islamic Liquidit Management Corp to promote financial inclusion in the Arab world

The Arab Monetary Fund and International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) have agreed to cooperate with an MoU that will allow the two parties to launch joint activities and programmes that help support economic development, opportunities, as well as to promote financial inclusion in the Arab region.

The two institutions will work together to provide technical support services and to build capabilities to develop the Islamic finance industry. The Arab Monetary Fund will contribute its expertise on the region, while the IILM will facilitate liquidity management for institutions that offer Islamic financial services.

Professor Datuk Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, Chief Executive Officer of the IILM said, “This collaboration is in line with the objectives of the IILM to facilitate liquidity management for Islamic financial services in the Arab region thereby enhancing their resilience and ability to meet future economic challenges. The development of a systemic shari’ah-compliant liquidity management infrastructure, accepted across multi - jurisdictions in which Islamic financial services operate, is instrumental towards ensuring sustainable financial stability.”

HE Dr Abdulrahman Al Hamidy, Director General Chairman of the Board, Arab Monetary Fund, said that that the signing of this memorandum is within the framework of the Fund's interest to develop its activities and programmes in the field of Islamic finance and financial inclusion. Furthermore the MoU attempts to consolidate relations with institutions and related bodies especially with the IILM and its role in supporting the opportunities of the development of Islamic industry.

The Arab Monetary Fund works to strengthen the foundations of monetary integration of the Arab economies, and provides financial and technical support for economic and financial reforms undertaken by the Arab countries to support the development and improvement of growth opportunities. On the other hand, the IILM aims to assist in the development of the Islamic finance industry by facilitating liquidity management for institutions that offer Islamic financial services.

International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance to be held this September

The 2nd International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance (IIEFC) will be organised by İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University International Research and Study Centre of Islamic Economics and Finance (IZU-ISEFAM) in collaboration with Participation Banks Association of Turkey (TKBB), the World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center and Borsa İstanbul from 11 to 13 September 2015 at the headquarters of İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The conference aims to satisfy the need for an institutional approach to Islamic economics and finance in Turkey, and to further research. The agenda includes:

Islamic economics and history;
Islamic finance;
Islamic insurance (takaful);
Islamic financial instruments;
Islamic commercial law.

Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport opens new terminal

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Tibah Airports Development Company have announced the opening of a new terminal at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport (PMIA) in Madinah Al-Munawarah, KSA.

This public-private partnership (PPP) and fast-track engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project was completed in 30 months. It is both the first US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified airport terminal outside of the US and the first in the MENA region.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) contracted with Tibah through a build operate and transfer agreement in the first airport privatisation in KSA. The contract is valued at approximately US$1.2 billion. The Tibah Consortium, which comprises Turkey's TAV Airports with Al Rajhi Holding Group and Saudi Oger, appointed a contractor consortium comprising TAV Airports and Al Arrab Contracting Company (ACC) to design and construct phase 1 facilities. CH2M, an engineering consultancy with over 40 years of transportation infrastructure experience in KSA, was appointed jointly by GACA and Tibah to be the independent engineer for the project.

Joe Stratford, CH2M's Project Director, said: "This iconic infrastructure project will facilitate increasing growth in passenger numbers and aircraft movements through provision of world-class modern airport airfield, passenger terminal and landside infrastructure. We are proud to have had the opportunity to play a significant role in the successful and timely delivery of these new facilities."

The new terminal and airfield are built to the highest international standards and allow for an initial operating capacity of 8 million passengers per year. The terminal is modular to allow for expansion in phase 2 to suit the expected future increases in passenger and aircraft traffic, with state-of-the-art facilities affirming PMIA's current and future role as a major gateway for scheduled passengers as well as Hajj and umrah pilgrims to Madinah and Saudi Arabia.

This new terminal takes up 156,940 sq m on three floors, and has 16 aircraft stands served by passenger boarding bridges and 20 remote apron stands. The project also includes the implementation of a widened and extended runway, with 10 km of taxiways capable of accommodating A380 size aircraft.

The project includes a mosque for 1,000 worshippers, and 20 support buildings including dedicated Hajj facilities plus a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Building.

posted from Bloggeroid

Increasing demand for coffee generates more interest in the International Coffee and Chocolate Exhibition

Coffee and chocolate sales have trebled in the Arab world in the past decade with consumption having increased by 100% in Saudi Arabia alone in the past three years. According to economist Hajar Al-Fadl, Saudis now spend more than SR5 billion on coffee each year.

"The Kingdom has achieved a huge growth in coffee sales with 25% annual growth each year from 2011 to 2014, making it the fastest-growing coffee market in the world," Al-Fadl said.

The figures were revealed ahead of the 2nd International Coffee and Chocolate Exhibition, which takes place at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from 26 to 28 November, 2015.

Last year’s exhibition attracted 120 exhibitors and over 25,000 visitors, with organisers Heights Agency predicting this year’s event will be even bigger with new features, including the introduction of the national barista championships.

“The event is one of the most significant coffee and chocolate events in the Arab world, and provides an integrated platform to highlight all aspects of the two products,” said Mohammed Al-Afees, Chairman of the Organising Committee. “This year we are adding a number of interactive workshops and training programs for participants, as well as the national barista championships to celebrate masters of the art of coffee preparation.”

Al-Afees said prominent coffee and chocolate experts from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab world and internationally will attend the three-day event, which offers significant investment and partnership opportunities, as well as an introduction to the Saudi market.

"The event is held in line with the active commercial movement in the Arab and Gulf markets regarding the two commodities, where the Kingdom is considered one of the leading coffee producers in the region and one of the most consuming countries in this area," he said.

Interested?

Exhibitors have until the end of October to register

Alkhair International Islamic Bank appoints new CEO

Alkhair International Islamic Bank, a subsidiary of Bank Alkhair of Bahrain, has appointed Datuk Adissadikin Ali as its new CEO. Prior to this appointment, he was Export-Import Bank of Malaysia’s (EXIM Bank's) CEO. Adissadikin succeeds Ikbal Daredia.

As the new CEO, he will be responsible for the development of AKIIB, being the first foreign Islamic bank in Malaysia licensed to conduct a full range of non-Malaysian Ringgit banking activities. He will also oversee all aspects of the AKIIB business in Malaysia and the surrounding regions.

Adissadikin began his career as a Management Trainee with Renong in 1995. He has spent 15 years in the financial services sector.

Apart from being an Harvard Business School alumni, Adissadikin also holds an MBA (Finance) from University of Malaya, Malaysia, a Bachelor Degree in Business (Banking & Finance) from Monash University, Australia and a Diploma in Investment Analysis from UiTM, Malaysia.

IILM reissues US$490 million sukuk tranche

The International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) has successfully reissued a US$490 million tranche of sukuk with a three-month tenor priced at a 0.58100% profit rate. This marks the 16th tranche in a series of short-term sukuk issued and reissued by the IILM, rated A -1 by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services. The following primary dealers participated in the reissue, which was oversubscribed :

1. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
2. Al Baraka Turk
3. Barwa Bank
4. CIMB Islamic Bank
5. KBL Private Bankers
6. Kuwait Finance House
7. Maybank Islamic
8. National Bank of Abu Dhabi
9. Qatar National Bank and
10. Standard Chartered Bank.

As at May 2015, the IILM has issued and reissued US$9.98 billion of sukuk.

Food and bio-industry conference in Brunei this May

Source: Brunei Darussalam government.

The two-day International Food and Bio-Industry Investment Conference will be held in Brunei Darussalam in May 2015 as part of the Sultanate's Brunei BioInnovation Corridor's (BIC) initiative. The conference and the BIC initiative are in line with the nation's intention to achieve further diversification, competitiveness and sustainability of the economy.

Source: Brunei Darussalam government. Aerial view, BIC.

Hosted by the government of Brunei Darussalam, the conference will align with BIC's purpose to promote Brunei Darussalam as a regional hub for bio-industry research and innovations, with a focus on halal food products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and logistics. Delegates will include senior government officials; business executives, investors, as well as high-profile speakers from around the globe. Topics of discussion are to cover economic opportunities in addition to in-depth bio-innovation.

Source: Brunei Darussalam government. BIC masterplan.

"The BIC spans an area of approximately 500 hectares, and will attract investment in research and development, manufacturing, and commercial industries. It is an additional sector that will strengthen the economy," said His Majesty The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the occasion of HM's 68th birthday.

The BIC, in the Brunei Muara District, is an initiative led by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam. The BIC is a mixed use environment able to accommodate research and innovative technology applications. It is anticipated to provide up to 28,000 full time employment positions, in which 9,500 roles would be related to food processing. 

Discussions are in progress for developing Phase 1 (37 hectares of land to be subdivided into 25 plots) with investors. Approximately 30% or up to 195 hectares of land is earmarked for industrial usage, and 25% of land will be allocated for green space. 

International Coffee & Tea Festival 2015 to be held in Dubai in November

The International Coffee & Tea Festival, the only dedicated trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Arab world, will be back again for a seventh edition. 

Source: International Conferences & Exhibitions.

Organised by International Conferences & Exhibitions, the next edition of the show will be held from November 11 to 13, 2015 at The Meydan Gallery and Convention Centre in Dubai.

The UAE has registered nearly 2,200 new café licenses in the last two years while more than 90 in-shop and large-scale coffee roasters are planning to open for business in the next 24 months. The country’s traditional coffee culture and an expanding tea market complement increasing investment in the café, coffee and tea businesses estimated to be worth between US$350 million and US$400 million, the show organisers said.
The 2015 International Coffee & Tea Festival will showcase all facets of coffee and tea and café products, equipment and services. Ryan Godinho, UAE’s National Liaison for World Coffee Events and Special Events Coordinator (Training & Championships) with the International Coffee & Tea Festival said: “The International Coffee and Tea Festival will be back again to address the challenges and strengths of the region’s growing coffee and tea industry. Only through exposure and competition will the quality of product and delivery improve. We need to more than double our efforts in bringing products that are constantly evolving as a result of ongoing research and development within this sector, into the region. Within the foreseeable future, Dubai will play a more active role in the world of coffee and tea.

“The Coffee & Tea Festival will also continue to focus on the career advancement of people working within the tea and coffee industry and at the same time provide entrepreneurs a platform to explore business opportunities within this lucrative industry.”

The International Coffee & Tea Festival is supported by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and World Coffee Events (WCE). It is the UAE’s only dedicated exhibition that showcases specialty coffee and tea products from around the world and attracts industry professionals from across the GCC, the MENA region, and the Indian sub-continent.

Terengganu International Islamic Arts Festival showcases calligraphy this December

The Terengganu International Islamic Arts Festival will be held from 5 to 7 December in Terengganu, Malaysia at the Taman Tamadun Islam, or TTI Convention Centre.

Source: TTI Convention Center
website.

Workshops will be held on the first two days and a spontaneous calligraphy competition on the last day, with specific text from the Quran to be written out in naskh or thuluth Arabic scripts.

Prepared submissions have also been invited for specific text from the Quran, to be written in the naskh, thuluth, djeli thuluth or kufi calligraphic styles. There are open and school competition categories.

More information can be found here (Bahasa Malaysia). View the associated video on the 2013 event here.

Flickr Wall Art offers wide range of options

Yahoo has launched Flickr wall art in international markets, allowing companies to decorate their walls with the work of Flickr photographers around the world.

In October, Yahoo announced the Flickr Wall Art service, which allows Flickr photographs from licensed artists who are part of the Flickr Marketplace to be turned into museum-quality wall prints that can be purchased on Flickr.

 

The Flickr team has curated Flickr-licensed photographs in popular categories such as abstract, landscapes, travel, and animals that can be ordered in sizes from 8”x10” up to 20”x30” and shipped internationally.

Flickr's Premium Photo Mounts are printed with professional grade paper and mounted with 1” wood-textured edges. With the Gallery Canvas Wrap option, artist-grade canvas is stretched across a traditional 1.25” wood frame. 

Check out more information in the Tumblr post here and start browsing here. 

Read the blog post about a similar service from Getty Images here.

*These images from Flickr are the author's, but not in the Flickr Marketplace.

2015 is the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies

The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) will be launched in 2015. Announced on 20 December 2013 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, this International Year has been the initiative of a large range of scientific bodies together with UNESCO, and will bring together many different stakeholders including scientific societies and unions, educational institutions, technology platforms, non-profit organisations and private sector partners.

Source: UNESCO.

Aimed at raising global awareness of how light-based technologies can provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health, this UNESCO-led initiative is an opportunity to celebrate the work of the 10th-century scientist Ibn Al-Haytham, also known as Alhazen.

Born Abū Alī al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn al-Haytham, Al-Haytham was a polymath from Basra (in modern-day Iraq) who is often referred to as the ‘father of modern optics’. He made significant advancements in optics, mathematics and astronomy, and helped lay the foundations of the present day scientific experimental method.

His life and works will be the subject of several major initiatives during 2015, beginning at the Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies on 19 January 2015 at UNESCO HQ in Paris. The ceremony will see the launch of 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham, a global campaign where UNESCO will partner with the science and cultural heritage organisation 1001 Inventions to announce a series of interactive exhibits, workshops and live shows illustrating the world of this scientist.

Said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova: “A ground-breaking scientist and a humanist from a thousand years ago, the life and work of Ibn Al-Haytham have never been as relevant as they are today.”

Following the January launch, the campaign will roll out in countries around the world. Other initiatives to celebrate Al-Haytham include educational actions coordinated by a high-level Ibn Al-Haytham Working Group, and a dedicated conference and exhibition at UNESCO HQ starting on 14 September 2015 entitled The Islamic Golden Age of Science for the Knowledge-Based Society. 

This conference will see experts in science, history and culture engage world leaders and the public with insights into the era of discoveries and innovations by scientists of different cultures and faiths who lived during that period of Muslim civilisation over 1,000 years ago.

Malaysia's Halal Outreach Program to touch down in Sarawak

The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the government agency responsible for the overall development of the halal industry in Malaysia, is launching the Halal Outreach Programme (HOPE) in Sarawak, Malaysia together with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) on 18 August.

Source: Halal Outreach Programme Sarawak website.

The two-day outreach includes halal training programmes, mentoring and business matching activities, panels, briefings by government agencies, and an industry clinic. According to the HOPE microsite, the programme aims to raise awareness and increase participation among halal local entrepreneurs in the halal industry. 

Participants will gain knowledge on marketing halal products and services internationally, while entrepreneurs will be exposed to business opportunities and receive tips on how to market their products. Entrepreneurs who have been successful in their respective fields will be sharing their experiences with event participants.

Second Halal Taiwan expo from June 25

The 2014 Taiwan International Halal Expo (Halal Taiwan) will be held for the second time as part of a 5 in 1 Food Expo from June 25 to 28 at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1, targeting the halal market which is estimated to be worth US$700 billion. 

In 2013, Halal Taiwan was spun off as an independent event from the halal section of Food Taipei. The show features halal certificd products. According to organisers the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), the first Halal Taiwan has attracted 353 registered Indonesian buyers, a growth of more than 80% compared to 2012.

Halal Taiwan is part of a 5-in-1 Food expo that covers all aspects of the food supply chain. It is held in conjunction with the Taipei International Food Show (Food Taipei), the Taipei International Food Processing & Pharma Machinery Show (Foodtech & Pharmatech Taipei), the Taipei International Packaging Industry Show (Taipei Pack) and the Taiwan International Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Show (Taiwan Horeca).

Source: Taitra. Sunnano Biotech's booth in 2013.

Yunlin Yuanchuang Poultry Product Coop. is presenting both fresh and prepared products while Lee's Biotechniques will introduce cosmetics. Rice and oatmeal-based products will be showcased by Golden Crops. Thirty other exhibitors will also be launching new products at the show. A list of exhibitors can be found here.

The event is open to trade only from June 25 to 27, and to the public at NT$300 on June 28 (terms and conditions apply).