TEMPO.CO, Seoul - The United Arab Emirates (UEA) will soon begin negotiations with South Korea over exports of halal-certified food products.
In order to meet the requirement, the South Korean government last week announced that it will ask Indonesian authorities to acknowledge products endorsed by the Korea Muslim Federation, to bring its authorization in line with neighbors Malaysia and Singapore.
"We are seeking a cross-certification of local halal certificates in the UAE and Indonesia by the end of this year, and to launch an aggressive marketing campaign for South Korean halal foods," the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement as quoted by Food Navigator-Asia on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.
Two years ago, the South Korean government agreed to adopt the UAE certification at the opening of a Korea-UAE trade office in Abu Dhabi.
"The UAE halal certification program will be introduced in Korea. I hope Korean agricultural produce will be popular in the UAE in the near future," South Korean Ambassador to the UAE Kwon Hae-ryong.
Earlier, South Korean President signed an agreement on agricultural cooperation and halal food cooperation with the UAE, which imports some 90 percent of its food.
FOOD NAVIGATOR-ASIA | CHOIRUL AMINUDDIN
