he delegation from Thailand led by a member of the Government of His Excellency Mr. Picheta Satirachavalom accompanied by members of the trade mission in Thailand visited the Council of Muftis of Russia.

The purpose of the visit was to observe the situation in the Halal industry of Russia and discuss the directions of cooperation. The delegation was accepted by Damir Gizatullin , the first deputy chairman of Religious board Muslims of the European part of Russia. He informed the members of the delegation about features of Islam and Muslims in Russia.

As the head of the delegation noted, the population in Thailand is 62 million people, 10 % of them are Muslims. In total in the country there are about 2 200 mosques, and in the capital of Thailand there are more than 250 mosques are located. Muslims of Thailand provide active work not only in developing Halal food sector, but also a sector of Halal services. Mr. Satirachaval himself is the active participant of this process, and one of the organizers of World Halal Congress which had taken a place in 2010 in Thailand.

Madina Kalimullina, the director of the department of economy of Council of muftis of Russia told about Halal industry development in Russia, certification processes and about the Moscow Halal Expo project. The parties agreed that mutual recognition of certificates and markings Halal, and also the development of trade in Halal production, produced in Russia and Thailand, is in the sphere of interests of the parties. In these purposes Halal manufacturers from Thailand were invited to participation in the fourth Moscow Halal Exhibition “Moscow Halal Expo 2013”. And the Russian producers of Halal products and services are invited in Thai Halal-city that is planned to be opened at the beginning of the next year in Thailand.

The parties also agreed upon the developing of the Memorandum of Understanding.