Foreign News
@ Halal | JANUARY-FEBRUARY . 2023
Celularity announces halal certification
CELULARITY Inc ., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing placental-derived allogenic cell therapies and biomaterial products , announced that it received halal certification of its business models , commercial-stage biomaterial products , and clinical and investigational stage cellular therapeutic programmes , indicating that they have undergone rigorous assessment to determine that they are permissible or acceptable per Islamic law or Shariah .
The certificates were issued under the authority of Circle H International , Inc . and offer the Company the ability to serve Islamic markets globally . This announcement supports Celularity ’ s global expansion strategy , which will ultimately include a presence in the Middle East North Africa ( MENA ) region and a priority focus on Saudi Arabia .
Celularity ’ s CEO , Chairman
of several models Halal certifications are an important prerequisite in the international markets for healthcare , and pharmaceutical products and services
and Founder , Robert J . Hariri : “ Obtaining broadly inclusive halal certification is a critical first step and an important milestone in Celularity ’ s plan to expand potential markets for our innovative cellular therapeutic candidates and biomaterial products . According to Fortune Business Insights , the global Muslim population represents 28.26 per cent of the world ’ s population , according to Fortune Business Insights , this certification facilitates our ability to grow and expand in international markets .”
Circle H issued the halal certifications based on the global standards promulgated by its esteemed Circle H Sharia Advisory Council . Circle H and the council are recognised and supported by prominent governmental and non-governmental organisations and Islamic universities . Religious leaders drawn from these renowned institutions sit on or advise Circle H and the council for the development and support of its halal standards .
“ Celularity ’ s inaugural annual halal certification means its cellular therapy
Chula Halal Science Centre – a world leader in halal science and standards
THE Chula Halal Science Centre is the only institution in Thailand that focuses on scientific and technological research and has developed its innovation following Islamic principles to protect Muslim and non-Muslim consumers and promote scholarship that is accepted internationally .
“ The centre has worked steadfastly for over 20 years ,” said the Centre ’ s director , Associate Professor Dr Winai Dahlan .
With Thailand ’ s policy to become the “ Kitchen of the World ,” Chula ’ s Halal Science Centre had played a significant role and has developed numerous innovations in halal food safety , namely : HAL-Q ( Halal Assurance , Liability – Quality System ), an award-winning full-scale management system with integrated halal food safety standards ; SILK ( Shariahcompliant ICT Logistics Kontrol system ), an award-winning , world ’ s first information technology system for the halal supply chain , logistics , and traceability management ; and H-Number , the world ’ s first database for decrypting halal chemicals to replace the E-Number or INS Number codes being used all over the world .
The Centre also developed its halal blockchain technology with all the product information from the source to the destination connected to the digital halal supply chain that can be
candidates and biomaterials products identified in its halal certifications issued by Circle H have been assessed and determined by the council to be a permissible use under Islamic law of the post-partum placenta obtained from informed consent donors as an ethical source of cells and other biomaterials ,” said CEO of Circle H , Elsayed Zayan .
“ Further , Celularity ’ s business model has been assessed and found to be organised consistently and subject to ongoing halal standards .”
Halal certifications are an important prerequisite in international healthcare and pharmaceutical products and services markets . According to Fitch Solutions , the MENA healthcare market is forecast to reach US $ 261.1 billion in 2023 and grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.6 per cent ; growth is anticipated across the aesthetics , facial rejuvenation and cell therapy categories . Other Islamic countries , including Malaysia , Indonesia , and Pakistan , have large , rapidly growing halal healthcare markets .
traced via QR Code . The technology prevents fraudulent manipulation of the data , and ranks the logistics of service providers , sales distributors , and other participants in the halal supply chain based on the efficiency of the service they provide .
Islamic Coin joins the United Nations at COP27
ISLAMIC COIN , the Shariah-compliant , ethics-first digital money , was presented at the United Nations COP27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh . Co-founder Mohammed AlKaff AlHashmi offered SDG-aligned solutions on a panel of international sustainability experts .
The conference in Egypt included remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leading luminaries on climate change and global climate action . Islamic Coin , a native token of the environment-friendly and Shariahcompliant Haqq Blockchain , advocates for technology-led sustainability efforts worldwide .
Positioning itself at the forefront of social action and philanthropy and having recently attracted over US $ 200 million in private investment , Islamic Coin has appeared at an UN-backed event for a second time . Islamic Coin ’ s SDG debut was at New York ’ s International Youth Conference , also supported by the United Nations .
Heralding in an era of unity and cooperation on charity and sustainable entrepreneurship , Islamic Coin ’ s Fatwa , an edict by leading Muslim authorities , provides for an Evergreen DAO that has already started to manage and execute the Coin ’ s investment and philanthropy strategy for the world ’ s Muslim community and beyond .
“ It was insightful to learn about Islamic Coin ’ s strategy and ongoing activities in the field of digital finance support for climate and SDG action empowerment ,” commented Miroslav Polzer , CEO of IAAI GloCha , strategic director of the Climate Chain Coalition and European Climate Pact ambassador .
Targeting 1.1 billion Muslim internet users worldwide and supporters of fair and transparent finance , Islamic Coin has already attracted attention from leading figureheads in both traditional and Islamic finance . It has also secured support from Royal Families in the UAE .
500 Global , a leading global venture capital firm , and Sanabil Investments , a financial investment company focused on global private investments in venture capital , growth and small buyouts , unveiled 15 startups in Batch 4 of the Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator Programme 2022 .
The programme received over 590 applicants from the MENA region , making it one of the most competitive batches with an acceptance rate of less than 2.5 per cent . For the first time , the highest number of applications came from Saudi Arabia , at 159 .
500 Global and Sanabil Investments announce Batch 4 of the Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator Programme
The Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator Program provides pre-seed and seed-stage startups across the Middle East and North Africa region with the foundation they need to validate and scale their business at regional and global levels .
Companies selected in the 4th batch focus on developing solutions that address issues across various sectors , including Fintech , Food & Beverage , Agtech , Healthtech and Insurtech .
Saudi Arabia , Egypt and the UAE are this batch ’ s top three countries of origin .
“ We have worked closely with Batch 4 founders since September 2022 to help pave their way to success . They join the 39 companies that have already graduated from the Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator Programme since our launch more than a year ago . Despite global economic headwinds , we continue to strongly believe in the potential of the Saudi and MENA startup ecosystem ,” said Amal Dokhan , General Partner at 500 Global MENA .