The government has set an ambitious plan to be among the world's top five halal producers by 2020, aiming to raise the value of Thai halal products to US$15 billion.
The Halal Development and Promotion Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday approved five strategies to boost halal products from 2016 to 2020.
The strategies include halal standards development, product quality enhancement, greater investment in research and development, and better market development and management.
Thailand ranks 13th among the world's halal producers at an estimated value of $5 billion, with exports making up $4 billion.
A panel chaired by Atchaka Sriboonruang, the industry permanent secretary, has been tasked with working out the details and funding.
Assoc Prof Winai Dahlan, director of the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University, said Thailand must develop quality standards for halal products.
He said several countries had developed their own standards for halal food, industrial products and services.
In order to develop better quality products, the government may need to promote production processes that meet halal requirements.
In the past, Thailand focused on halal foods. But the situation has changed because many halal producers have shifted to making various halal products, including manufactured items such as auto parts and clothes.
Under the five-year strategic plan, Thailand aims to develop about 2,500 halal companies.
Research and development for halal goods will also be a focus as a means of introducing new and innovative merchandise.
The plan includes development of a halal industrial estate in Pattani province to promote investment in halal products.
Assoc Prof Winai said Thailand should ask for more cooperation from neighbouring countries and other economic groups such as Asean, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle.