Composition, Background and Business Opportunities of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian Countries

As Muslims' purchasing power gradually rises, demand for Halal-certified products increases year by year, and multinational chains have launched halal-certified products one after another. Many of these Middle Eastern halal countries are Arab countries. There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia; the Southeast Asian halal countries are Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Muslims account for about 86.7% of the total population, making it one of the regions with the most concentrated Muslim population in the world. Today's Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic and promising regions for world economic development, and since ancient times has been a place China must pass through to reach the world. In the future, as China and Southeast Asian countries develop rapidly in economic construction and social progress, their cooperative relations will grow ever better!

Middle Eastern countries and culture

'The Middle East' can generally be approximately understood as referring broadly to some countries in West Asia and North Africa. In a broad sense, it generally includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Israel, Cyprus and others. Somalia, Djibouti and the Comoros are also often included because they are all members of the Arab League. Among them, all except Israel and Cyprus are halal countries.

The Halal product market

The global Muslim population exceeds 1.6 billion, more than mainland China; it is about the same size as the global Chinese market. According to estimates by America's Time magazine and the Financial Times, the global halal market in 2010 would exceed one trillion US dollars. (Reference: a magazine published in September 2010 by the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei) Compared with mainland China, this market is in no way inferior in terms of population and purchasing power. As Muslims' purchasing power gradually rises, demand for Halal-certified products increases year by year, and multinational chains have launched halal products one after another, targeting this market of unlimited potential; even Taiwanese manufacturers have begun to explore 'Halal certification.'

Arab countries

Arab countries generally refer to countries composed mainly of the Arab people. They use the same language—Arabic—have a common culture and customs, and the vast majority of their people are Muslims. Although some countries are not composed mainly of the Arab people, they have long established close political, economic and cultural ties with Arab countries and joined the Arab League, so they are also called Arab countries. The scope of the Arab countries partly overlaps with the scope of the Middle East, but there are also differences; not all Middle Eastern countries are Arab countries. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan are non-Arab countries.

(Reference: Global Times)

Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN

Southeast Asia is a new regional name that only appeared in the latter part of World War II. There are 11 countries in the Southeast Asian region: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Timor-Leste. Countries around the world are accustomed to calling Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar the 'mainland countries' or 'peninsula countries' of Southeast Asia, and Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Timor-Leste the 'maritime countries' or 'island countries' of Southeast Asia. In 1967, a 'group of nations' emerged in the Southeast Asian region—the 'Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN for short). It has developed to 10 member states today. The 'Framework Agreement on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area' provides ASEAN with a good trade platform. The Southeast Asian halal countries are Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Muslims account for about 86.7% of the total population, making it one of the regions with the most concentrated Muslim population in the world.

Southeast Asian countries each have their own long history and are all emerging countries. Except for Singapore, they are all developing countries. Southeast Asian countries are all multi-ethnic countries. The whole region has more than 90 ethnic groups, and Southeast Asia is also the region with the most overseas Chinese in the world. The whole region has about 20 million overseas Chinese, plus more than 2 million Indians and more than 1 million immigrants from other countries. Today's Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic and promising regions for world economic development. In the future world political and economic landscape, Southeast Asia's political and economic role and strategic position will become even more important. Southeast Asia is China's southern neighbor and, since ancient times, a place China must pass through to reach the world. In the future, as China and Southeast Asian countries develop rapidly in economic construction and social progress, their cooperative relations will grow ever better!