Muslim products feeding growth

Halal food and Muslim commodities with ethnic Hui influences are of course popular in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, but they have now been developed into large-scale industries that produce for other regions and countries.

Ningxia has held two international Muslim fairs for food and commodities, attracting officials, businesses, industrialists and economists from more than 40 countries and regions. The fair and festival gained international attention, especially from Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, the UAE and Kuwait.

It will hold its third session this year.

The region began cooperating with Thailand and Malaysia in certification of Muslim food in 2006.

The world's Muslim population is estimated to be 1.5 billion, and the trade volume of Muslim products reaches $150 billion a year. The Ningxia fairs and festivals promote its convenient conditions and wide-ranging opportunities for halal food and agricultural processing.

In talks in Bangkok with vice-chairman of the regional government Li Rui, Thailand's commerce minister said the kingdom found new ways to explore its farm produce potential through the Ningxia fair for halal food and Muslim commodities.

Production of halal food and Muslim commodities is industrialized in Ningxia. With a large workforce, its industries generate a wide variety of products through mass production that meet international norms. Some producers have long-term export ties with foreign businesses.

Halal food includes beef, mutton and dairy products, grain and cooking oil, non-staple foodstuffs, additives, health products and catering.

The region's ethnic commodities include textiles and knitwear, clothing, daily necessities, hats and footwear, furniture and medicine. Local areas of Ningxia hold regular cuisine festivals and fairs that have brought halal food more and more into the mainstream, making it popular among all groups.

The region has included halal food and ethnic commodities in overall planning for investment and development.