Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia

Thursday, March 17th, 2016, Kuala Lumpur: World-renowned mass media and information firm Thomson Reuters will be introducing a new portal focusing on the latest information and intelligence on Islamic economy at Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2016. MIHAS 2016 -- a signature event by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) --will be held this 30 March till 2 April 2016.

Salaam Gateway is a source of intelligence on all sectors of the Islamic economy. This online platform will cover the seven pillars of the Islamic economy-food, finance, travel and tourism, fashion, arts and design, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, media and recreation as well as e-commerce.

“Salaam Gateway offers a knowledge-sharing platform at this world’s biggest Halal trade fair. Through this partnership, businesses, policymakers and Muslim professionals will be able to gain access to the full spectrum of the Islamic asset classes from across the regions. This will enable us to generate viable solutions to speed up the industry’s growth”, said Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud.

Built on the back of the world’s most extensive data capabilities, Thomson Reuters leverages on its global network to provide primary source of intelligence on markets, industries and institutions relevant to the Islamic economy. Available in both English and Arabic, the online platform will serve as a major source of research, information and data for Muslim professionals; helping them to integrate traditional values into their modern lifestyles.

The online portal Salaam Gateway was a product of Thomson Reuters’ partnership with Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC). The portal aims to help Muslim professionals widen their understanding of the Islamic economy and explore the opportunities open to them. This will contribute to the development of a knowledge ecosystem that is critical for the evolution of the Islamic economy.

Salaam Gateway is considered an essential business to business (B2B) tool for Muslim professionals, facilitating the sourcing and trading of Halal products and services through their extensive database of Halal companies from across the globe. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from this platform by listing their business to gain visibility. It also presents an opportunity for companies to widen their business network and forge profitable partnerships.

“The introduction of Salaam Gateway marks a major step towards the globalisation of the Islamic economy and MIHAS, which represents the global Halal marketplace, is the ideal platform to share this knowledge with the world”, said Nadim Najjar, Managing Director, MENA, Thomson Reuters.

The Islamic economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, developing at nearly twice the rate of the global economy. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report (SGIE 2015-2016), developed by DIEDC and Thomson Reuters, Muslim consumers’ spending exceeded USD1.8 trillion in 2014, with solid growth recorded across several sectors of the Islamic economy.

“In understanding the needs and priorities of Muslim consumers, it will require more study and research to be undertaken and the result will offer a new level of products and service development for the growth and evolution of the Halal market. More knowledge-sharing will enable businesses to explore the opportunities available to them in the emerging new Islamic economy,” said Dato’ Dzulkifli.

MIHAS is internationally recognised as a value-adding event that promotes cross-border economic relationships and business partnerships. The 13th MIHAS is an event parked under the World Halal Week 2016 and is scheduled to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).