Africa-Press – Uganda. The Executive Director of the Halal Assurance Institute Uganda (HAIU), Mr. Ali Kalema, held a series of high-level and fruitful discussions aimed at fostering strategic partnerships and enhancing Halal certification standards for Ugandan and East African exporters.
These engagements took place at the Uganda Embassy in Riyadh with Ambassador Isaac Biruma Sebulime and Deputy Ambassador Sheikh Sulaiman Guggwa, as well as at the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Accreditation Center (GAC).
The talks with the Ugandan diplomatic mission focused on exploring avenues for promoting Ugandan Halal-certified products in the Middle East and GCC markets, and supporting Uganda’s broader agenda of diversifying exports and strengthening economic ties with the region.
The Embassy expressed strong support for HAIU’s initiatives and emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance with international Halal standards to access the lucrative GCC market.
A key part of the Executive Director’s visit included a joint meeting with Eng. Moteb Al-Mezani, Director General of the GCC Accreditation Center, at the GAC offices located at 3310 Aladeem Street in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh.
The meeting centered on collaboration between GAC and Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs) to ensure adherence to the rigorous Halal standards established by the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO).
The discussions underscored GAC’s commitment to supporting Halal certification bodies through a structured approach that includes training and capacity building, offering workshops to enhance understanding of GCC Halal standards and accreditation criteria.
GAC also committed to providing pre-assessment support, helping certification bodies identify and address compliance gaps ahead of formal evaluations.
Additionally, the center will guide these bodies through the full accreditation process, including documentation, audits, and evaluations, ensuring a streamlined and efficient certification pathway.
Mr. Kalema expressed HAIU’s keen interest in fostering strategic partnerships with GAC and other accredited Halal certification bodies.
He emphasized that collaboration is crucial to building trust and ensuring the credibility of Halal certifications from Uganda and the wider East African region.
HAIU envisions working jointly on preparing companies within Uganda and across East Africa for export readiness to the Middle East, GCC countries, and global markets.
This would involve coordinated auditing assessments and the issuance of twin certificates or shipment permits to meet international Halal requirements.
Such partnerships, he noted, would enhance compliance, facilitate market access, and boost the global competitiveness of certified products from the region.
The discussions marked a significant milestone in aligning Uganda’s Halal certification framework with international best practices and accreditation protocols, paving the way for broader trade and investment opportunities in the Halal economy.
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