Recently in the media there began to appear information that the Moscow Halal Expo has undergone a rebranding and has changed both its name and owners. However, this information is unreliable. Rushan hazrat Abbyasov, First Deputy Chairman of Russia Muftis Council and Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, head of Moscow Halal Expo organizing committee, in his interview highlighted how Moscow Halal Expo brand began to develop and whom it belongs to now.
- Rushan hazrat, some Internet sources have published information that Moscow Halal Expo exhibition was allegedly rebranded and is independent from Russia Muftis Council. How can you comment on this situation?
- A number of online sources spread false information that Moscow Halal Expo exhibition has allegedly undergone a rebranding and is now called Halfood. But I would like to make it clear that Russia Muftis Council is the only founder Moscow Halal Expo. The exhibition did not undergo any rebranding and Halfood exhibition, that will take place in April, has nothing to do with Moscow Halal Expo.
- However, the representatives of "Alif Consult " Company, in particular Madina Kalimullina and Kirill Skogorev, has openly testified the opposite. It turns out that they mislead both the partners of the Exhibition from different countries of the world, as well as the participants?
- Since January 15, 2018 Russia Muftis Council has ended up its patronage and support of any exhibitions organized by OOO "Alif Consult " Company. Hence they do not have the right to use the registered trademark of the Centralized Muslim Religious Organization Russia Muftis Council with the text MOSCOW HALAL EXPO.
- On the website of Halfood it’s said that this exhibition is nothing else but the 9th International Exhibition Moscow Halal Expo. Is it an attempt to discredit Moscow Halal Expo?
- Yes, exactly. Russia Muftis Council has been organizing Moscow Halal Expo for 8 years and the exhibition held by "Alif Consult " is not the assignee of Moscow Halal Expo. I do not deny the fact that for two years, in 2016-2017, we cooperated with this company and together organized Moscow Halal Expo. But since the current year, in connection with the loss of confidence, we decided to revoke the right to patronage.
Russia Muftis Council began to develop Moscow Halal Expo in the early 2000s. The first steps were made more than 15 years ago at the interfaith exhibition "With faith, hope, love in the third millennium" at the All-Russian Exhibition Center, where the first Muslim fashion show in Moscow took place. Later, by the will of the Almighty and with the blessing of the head of Russia Muftis Council and Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Moscow Halal Expo brand was established. And as a results of the hard work of our team Moscow Halal Expo has been gaining pace every year. The number of partners, exhibitors, speakers, and visitors has increased.
The program of the Exhibition was actively expanded. Since the first exhibition companies from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Great Britain, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, France and other countries of the world have participated in it.
Within the framework of Moscow Halal Expo we hold such events as the Business Forum, the Youth Forum, the International Halal Congress, the Contests "The Best Halal Product of the Year" and "The Best Halal Company of the Year", various workshops.
We are glad that halal market is developing and that new exhibitions are emerging. We feel confident in this market, we have a great deal of experience in cooperation with our partners, and our exhibition does not need any rebranding.
- So when will the 9th Moscow Halal Expo be held? And who will organize it?
- There is already a team of professionals working on the organization of the exhibition in Russia Muftis Council. And in the very near future we are going to make a public announcement about the 9th Moscow Halal Expo, which will be held in the fall of 2018. We are waiting for all those wishing to participate at Moscow Halal Expo or visit our exhibition. We prepare many interesting decisions and programs presentations. We would like to draw attention that information on the dates will be available on the website of Russia Muftis Council: www.muslim.ru.