The Thai Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has advised local private sectors to penetrate China's halal food market, as the market is growing over 20pc a year.

Kuwait Finance House received the World's Best Islamic Real Estate Finance Provider from Global Finance for its social developmental role in easing home ownership.

A Saudi Royal Order has been issued to protect the Islamic archeological sites and artifacts in Makkah and Madina, while town planners laid out massive plan to redevelop the two holy cities.

Malaysia's East Coast Economic Region is wooing GCC investors to tap into opportunities in the Halal New Growth Clusters which have a total estimated value of USD$274 billion worldwide.

We spoke to Rishad Allaberdiyev, CEO of Moscow International Halal Exhibition on the rationale and intricacies of holding the upcoming 2nd Moscow Halal Expo, to be held from May 26–28.

A unified Halal standard between Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia could pave the way for more Halal products from the region onto supermarket shelves in Europe, suggests an expert.

The halal food market is one of the largest opportunities in the food and agribusiness sector globally, with the red meat trade seen as the most lucrative for Pakistani companies.

With a predominantly Muslim population of 75 million and a steady strengthening of the economy, Turkey makes a bid to garner the burgeoning global Halal market worth US$1.2 - 2 trillion per annum.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has found traces of pig DNA in meat products supplied by Lucky Food Processing Sdn Bhd resulting in the revocation of its Halal certification with immediate effect.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking to gain US$8.75 billion a year from religious tourism when the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims swell to over 15 million by 2013.

The Middle East may be the heart of Islam and its investors may have plenty of liquidity, but the region’s Islamic banking sector remains relatively immature and undeveloped compared to South East Asia.

Trade between Pakistan and Malaysia exceeded the US$2.5 billion mark in 2010, registering an overall increase of 34 percent against total trade of US$1.86 billion in the previous year

After numerous challenges and pitfalls, the Islamic finance sector in Russia is now ready to contribute to the country's real economy with the help of a determined team from the Russia Mufti Council.

Lootah Hotel Management, the holding company behind UAE-based Al Jawhara Hotels & Apartments, has announced the opening of the first Shariah-compliant resort in the Maldives by 2013.

The draft EU Act on labeling of Halal and kosher meat continue to attract plenty of arguments from both ends. Here's an interesting one from Daniel Hannan of The Telegraph.

The picturesque city of Invercargill in Southland hosted the seventh annual meeting of the New Zealand Halal Slaughtermen Union last week, where they also celebrated the recent Halal Journal Award win by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

Pakistan is looking to become the global leader of Islamic Marketing with the organising of the 2nd Annual Islamic Conference, The Marketing Renaissance this May 15 in Karachi.

After a buoyant performance in the fragrance and cosmetic industry last year, experts are anticipating a promising 2011 as the Arab's intense predilection for fragrances and cosmetics ensures a healthy outlook.

Director of US-based Midamar Corp. Jalel Aossey was invited to speak at the recent WHF in Kuala Lumpur, where he discussed the challenges and opportunities of conducting a Halal business in secular countries.

The Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2011), the leading travel exhibition for the Middle East region, will be held from 2 - 5th May 2011 at Dubai, UAE and Crescentrating.com will again be participating.