It is odd that sometimes the answers we've been looking for is right there under our own nose. And more often than we realise, a lot can be gathered about the creator of a given product, just by looking at the packaging.

There is no question that the European Halal market is a viable and untapped emerging market. The question of how best to access it is a more complex problem.

While the collective spending power of the Muslim community is impressive, there are obvious risks associated with reaching out directly. Here are some tips for the strong-willed retailers.

The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), a private agency owned 100% by the Malaysian government, recently released what is claimed to be the world's first Halal Business Directory widget.

AltMuslim.com's Zahed Amanullah recently put up his top ten Good News stories for 2009, where he sees 2009 as a 'tipping point' for Halal food with heightened exposure and demand.

An estimated total of US$ 150 billion of Halal merchandise are distributed through the Emirates each year, and a large proportion of these are cosmetics and personal care items.

The global Islamic fashion industry is worth at least USD96 billion a year, with the European Muslim clothing market estimated to be worth USD960 million a year to USD4.8 billion a year.

Halal and Islamic finance industries are effectively the twin cornerstones of the Halal Market economy. By this, we are referring to a dynamic market arena for Halal products and services, trading according to halal transactions and contracts, using – ultimately – halal currencies.

Worldwide interest in Halal, based on Google searches, has doubled in the past five years, providing us with some statistical foundation for claims that the global Halal market is growing

“There is a convergence of common interest – religious, political, economic, social – that is now clustering around the concept of Halal, and all that it implies, and these interests show all the signs of building into a perfect storm.”

The interest and demand for Halal-certified products and services continues to increase across global markets, making Halal not just a religious obligation, but also a powerful market force.

Halal is a market parameter that is based on belief in, and consequent obedience to a Divine command. While kosher commands market respect in a similar field, it pales into insignificance when placed alongside the emerging potential of the Halal market.

Industry players are now competing to get a significant share of the halal industry market in Europe which has a population of 51.2 million Muslims.

Created to increase Halal awareness using mainstream media, Halal Media is committed to contributing to the development of the global Halal market. Halal Media is where ideas are derived and communicated to the global Halal consumers.