Leading regional and international retail establishments and industry bodies have joined hands with Expo Centre Sharjah for the upcoming international Halal-certified food products exhibition, Halal Food Middle East. The latest organisation to throw its support behind the show is local retail major Sharjah Cooperative Society, or SCS, after OIC’s trade promotion wing Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, Halal Development Council, Halal Italia, Halal Research Council, Halal Australia, Co.Re.Is.Italiana, and OIC Today, among others. The show, which is held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, apart from several leading retailers, food producers and dealers. Billed as a one-stop platform for facilitating and sourcing the sale and purchase of food and related products that conform to Halal requirements, Halal Food ME will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from December 10 to 12, 2012, and will aim to tap into the $2.77 trillion international Halal food industry. “Preparations are under way to make the inaugural Halal Food ME a highly successful trade show. We launched the show globally during the 8th Malaysia International Halal Showcase in Kuala Lumpur and we will promote it globally. We just finished a promotional tour of China and will now be heading to Thailand. The support and participation of Sharjah Cooperative Society will add more credence and strengthen the value proposition of Halal Food ME,” Expo Centre Sharjah director-general Saif Mohammed Al Midfa. SCS’ decision to participate in the show comes following a meeting between Al Midfa and SCS director-general Majid Al Junaid, and will help achieve the larger goal of strengthening ties and partnerships with government departments in the country. From khaleejtimes