By: Nevena Šarenac
The first international halal fair and forum ‘Sahaf 2013’, which will be held from 15-17 May in the Sarajevo Center Skenderija, is an opportunity for the full potential of the halal industry to be realized. The organizers of this fair expressed their satisfaction because around 30 companies involved in the halal industry responded to the invitation to participate in the fair, said today at the presentation of the fair in Sarajevo.
The fair will open on Wednesday, 15 May beginning at 10:00. The Director of the Agency for Certification of Halal Quality Amir Sakić announced that on Thursday a halal forum would be held, where academics and experts from this industry and manufacturers will gather to discuss the potential and challenges of the halal industry.
The forum is thematically related to the area of Islamic economy that is the framework for the two most important segments-Islamic finance and the halal industry, and a model of financing in the halal industry that is applied in BIH will be presented, especially those models developed by BBI bank.
Sakić said that the fair will be a place for the promotion of the first applications for smartphones to search for halal products, whose goal is to make it easier for consumers who buy these products.
In addition, as part of the fair an initiative for the formation of associations will be presented, due to the fact that in this area there is currently no association that deals with this, and there is a lack of information what consumers of halal products are looking for.
Recognizing the fact that the halal industry has the potential and perspective for significant growth and development, the first international fair for the halal industry was organized, and the Director of the Skenderija Center Hajriz Bećirović said that the spring season would finish with the ‘Sahaf’ fair and in hopes that it would become a tradition in the Sarajevo fair.
“I hope that ‘Sahaf’ is a unique opportunity for a direct presentation of products and services, direct communication of experts and all those engaged in this area, and a number of supporting programs to be useful to all participants and visitors and as such to become inevitable in the future’’, said Bećirović.
The organizers of ‘Sahaf’, according to Director of GHB Investa Amel Kovačević, are satisfied with the number of companies that are participating at the fair and that would present the potential of the halal industry in its full capacity.
Kovačević said that the fair is a multidimensional manifestation, within which accredited exhibitors would present their goods and services, and the opportunity for visitors to try different types of halal food products, and to become familiar with other halal products that are an integral part of the halal industry.
The Halal Cooking Show has been announced, which will be realized with the BiH Association of Chefs.
This year’s ‘Sahaf’ fair will also feature a cultural segment. On Thursday, 16 may there will be a ‘Sahaf’ gala concert, where the ‘fashion show my hijab by Narcisa Turković” will be held. Also, the Association ‘Elif’ will enrich the fair with its exhibition, whose opening is planned on Wednesday beginning at 12:00.
“Our wish is through a musical evening to present the spiritual dimension of halal. We hope that the public will be satisfied with what they will hear during the concert’’, said the Creative Director of the concert and BiH artist Latif Močević.
The general sponsors of ‘Sahaf’ are member of BIH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović and the reisu-l-ulema of the Islamic community in BiH Husein ef. Kavazović.
Portal ‘Sarajevo Times’ is one of the media partners of the ‘Sahaf’ fair.
The entrance fee is one KM. Organized groups do not have to pay an entrance fee if they provide prior notice to the organizers of ‘Sahaf’.
