Through our certification service, which we launched in 2009 as GİMDES, we have supported the production of Halal and Tayyib certified products—which our Muslim consumers deserve—by issuing Halal certificates to tens of thousands of products from hundreds of companies to date. Since our founding in 2005, we have organized countless conferences, seminars, meetings, and social events across every corner of Turkey to raise public awareness of the concepts of Halal and Tayyib and help foster greater understanding within society.
To ensure these products can be easily made available to consumers domestically, Dunya Halal Markets have been established and are operated by independent entrepreneurs with the encouragement of GİMDES. It is projected that the number of branches will increase in the coming period, with at least one store in every district. As a result, a greater quantity of Halal-certified products will reach consumers, and consequently, the variety and quantity of Halal-certified products will increase.
On the other hand, our country is a production hub for food and essential goods. Its geographical location also provides our country with the opportunity to serve as an excellent logistics center, and food products play a significant role in our exports. Unfortunately, the export of Halal-certified products remains at very low levels. Setting aside basic commodities such as flour and pasta—which are considered primary raw materials—as well as chicken and meat products produced by large-scale operations, the export of other Halal-certified products is virtually zero.
While there are different reasons for each producer, common factors include:
the low capacity of our manufacturing companies; the perception that there is no need for exports; a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding export marketing and sales; a lack of foreign language skills; inability to communicate effectively; a lack of knowledge about the official procedures for exporting; a shortage of personnel to handle the work; and the indifference of government agencies.
As GİMDES, we are preparing an export project aimed at promoting Halal-certified products in international markets, finding customers, and establishing business connections—thereby generating foreign exchange for our country and ensuring access to consumers in foreign countries. We hope to collaborate with our companies, particularly those classified as SMEs, on this project.
In the coming days, representatives from the GİMDES headquarters will visit your companies at a convenient time to discuss this matter with you and provide detailed explanations.
