An Overview of the Halal Industry in the Gambia with Islamic Perspective: Challenges and Opportunities

Authors

  • kawsu Sanneh Master of Halal Industry Management, International Institute for Halal Research and Training, International Islamic University, Malaysia.
  • Betania Kartika Assistant Professor, International Institute for Halal Research and Training, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53583/jrss02.0102.2021

Keywords:

Halal Industry, Challenges, Muslim Consumers, Gambia, Sharee-ah

Abstract

This study discusses an overview of the halal industry in The Gambia which is the smallest country in mainland Africa. Halal Industry has emerged as a new sector in the global economy, the industry is worth 2.3 trillion U.S Dollars. It is currently dominated by Southeast Asia with Malaysia and Indonesia taking the lead, followed by other continents like the United States of America, Europe, and Africa. Islam is believed to have been practiced in West Africa since the 7th Century amounting to over 12 centuries of Islamic influence in the region. The Gambia is a country with a 95 percent Muslim population, necessitating consumer awareness of halal products and services. There are currently no established halal education institutes in The Gambia, which has had a significant impact on Muslim consumers' awareness of halal standards, spanning from local farmers to food vendors, local consumers, processing industries, and importers. The lack of formal halal education institutions stands out as the most noticeable challenge. However, the vibrant Muslim population offers the highest opportunity. The paper is compiled from primary and secondary sources including government agencies, private firms, local consumers, journal articles, books, etc to find out the awareness of halal products, opportunities, and challenges.

Author Biographies

kawsu Sanneh, Master of Halal Industry Management, International Institute for Halal Research and Training, International Islamic University, Malaysia.

He is the founding Scholar of the Movement for Islamic Research and Da'wah (MIRD), The Republic of The Gambia. He authored several Islamic books including "Virtues and Rulings of Ramadan", and has published numerous articles in print and electronic media. His main areas of research are; Halal sciences, theology, comparative religion, and global affairs. He has also conducted prominent public lectures in religious sciences at local and international conferences. He is currently studying Master of Halal Industry Management at the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Betania Kartika, Assistant Professor, International Institute for Halal Research and Training, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Betania Kartika is currently the Associate Dean for Training and Industrial Linkages, at International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Formerly she was a Head of Halal Awareness, Information and Outreach, Head of Academics and Student Affairs and a Deputy Director of Academic and Training at the same Institute. Betania obtained her Doctoral Degree in Tafsir and Hadith from the University of Malaya, Master Degree in the same field from International Islamic University Islamabad and Bachelor Degree in Usuluddin from the same university.

Betania has been teaching a Subject of  Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) for Halal Industry, at International Institute for Halal Research and Training, INHART,  for the candidates of Ph.D. in   Halal Industry (P_HI), Master in Halal Industry Management  (MAHIM) and Master of Science in Halal Industry Sciences (MSHIS),  since 2015 up to present time, and a course named Ethics and Toyyiban Concept in Halal Products and Services under BAHIM (Bachelor in Halal Industry Management) in collaboration with Department of Fiqh and Usul Fiqh, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS), International Islamic University, IIUM. She has been involved in the Designing of Curriculum for Diploma in Halal Industry Management offered at International Islamic College, Bachelor in Halal Industry Management, IIUM and  Bachelor in Islamic Studies by Academy of Islamic Studies (Akademi Pengajian Islam), University Malaya, Malaysia.

Betania started her professionalism as a Lecturer at the National University of Modern Languages Islamabad Pakistan in 1994-1999, she was a Principal of Indonesian Islamic School Los Angeles in 2000-2006, and a Volunteer in the office of Curriculum Director at Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education (BAIE) Islamic Centre of Southern California in 2004-2006. From 2006-2014, she was an Academic Staff at IIUM Lower Education. In 2014 she joined INHART as an Academic Staff, Researcher and Trainer for Halal Courses. She has been conducting Halal training nationally and beyond. Her research interests are in the fields of Thematic Exegesis, Science of Hadith, Islamic Jurisprudence of Halal Industry, Islamic Morality, Aquaculture and Oriental Medicines. She speaks in many Conferences related to those issues, locally and globally. Betania is also certified Hand Acupuncturist and a Master Trainer by the Institute of Korean Hand Therapy, Seoul Korea, since 1992.

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Published

2022-12-30

How to Cite

Sanneh, kawsu, & Kartika, B. (2022). An Overview of the Halal Industry in the Gambia with Islamic Perspective: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Religious and Social Studies, 2(02 Jul-Dec), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.53583/jrss02.0102.2021

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 02 Jul-Dec (2022): Journal of Religious and Social Studies-JRSS

Section

Articles

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