Halal
About 1 to 2% of the population are Muslims, mainly concentrated among China's ethnic minorities, including the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and the Xinjiang region. However, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this small percentage translates into a population of still more than 20 million, which represents a huge market for local and foreign enterprises in halal food and halal certification. Southeast Asian companies have entered China; at the same time, local indigenous enterprises that have long provided dietary needs for their believers are trying to expand beyond the country's borders.
China's halal food exports average about US$100 million of the global share each year, which is considered meager and with significant growth potential yet to be realized. Although large local companies have successfully penetrated overseas markets, many smaller enterprises are striving to become known. Mohammed Mohsin Butt, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Nottingham Business School, pointed out that the Chinese government and business sector are making all the right moves to win over the Muslim world.
He explained: as an important halal supplier, China has participated in some good practices, such as holding international conferences and events, building halal manufacturing centers and industrial zones, and establishing joint ventures or cooperating with Muslim-majority countries. For example, since 2005 there has been the China (Ningxia) International Halal Food and Muslim Commodities Festival Investment and Trade Fair, while Qinghai has held the International Halal Food and Products Expo since 2007. Both showcase China's halal products to the world, promote the development of small enterprises, and create opportunities for procurement and sales.