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Businesses bullish on the prospects for Sharia-compliant products and services - May 11, 2012 A global survey of C-level and senior executives shows that demand for Sharia-orientated products and services is strong, and expected to grow, according to new research from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Among the reasons are expanding Muslim populations, rising purchasing power, shifting consumption patterns and a broader range of products and services on offer. The range of Sharia-orientated products and services is broadening, from food and Islamic finance products to pharmaceuticals, fashion and tourism, among others.   The EIU carried out 13 in-depth interviews with executives of companies from the Sharia industry to produce the report, The Sharia-Conscious Consumer: Driving Demand, which was commissioned by Kuwait Finance House. “The research highlights the global nature of this business and the evolving dynamics across different regions,” said Trevor McFarlane, senior editor for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the EIU.   The study is based on an online survey of 398 executives worldwide. Here are the key findings of the report:   ·        The Sharia-conscious consumer market is growing worldwide. More than half (54%) of the survey respondents said that the market for Sharia-compliant products and services is already significant for their business. Asked the same question but for their business in three years’ time, the number of respondents giving the same answer jumped to 68%. Businesses are seeing this translate into sales - half (51%) of respondents are currently enjoying annual growth in revenue of at least 5%, while 34% are registering higher than 15% growth. ·        Religious conviction is a major driver of demand. When asked to select the top three factors influencing demand, most (56%) respondents chose the growing acceptance of Islamic precepts. Muslim population growth in both Muslim (46%) and non-Muslim (39%) countries were also cited as important drivers of demand. ·        The market divides into three geographic segments: Muslim majority countries, mixed culture countries (eg in south-east Asia), and non-Muslim countries. Muslim-majority countries are seeing the fastest-growing demand. When asked to select the top three regions where Sharia-oriented demand is currently growing strongest, 70% of respondents chose the Arabian Gulf countries, followed by north Africa (36%) and South Asia (34%). In three years’ time, respondents see largely the same trend: around 62% selected the Arabian Gulf countries, while 41% picked north Africa and 38% see growth in demand coming from south Asia. ·        Halal food and Islamic finance are the mainstays of the sector, with halal-friendly tourism and Islamic fashion showing future promise. Respondents see food and finance as having the fastest growth, both now and in three years’ time. Improving standards related to issues such as labelling and marketing communications could help to accelerate that growth. More than four-fifths (81%) of respondents say labelling products as halal is an important factor for consumers. ·        Lack of professional management among product and service providers is a major barrier to growth. A significant proportion (44%) of respondents said that poor management and insufficient market awareness on the part of producers holds back development of this sector. Almost as many (42%) said that a lack of convincing branding for products and services blocks growth. Standardisation and certification, a troublesome issue within the global market for halal food, is seen by industry experts as a must for further development of the halal food segment.   ·        Islamic finance is seen as an important enabler for the broader industry. More than half (55%) of the survey respondents cited access to Sharia-compliant finance as important to their business. An even higher percentage (58%) said easy access to such finance is crucial for their customers as well. ·        Demand for Islamic bonds (or sukuk) is expected to grow. Nearly 30% of survey respondents said they expected demand for sukuk to grow strongly, a view shared especially by those who work in finance. With international banks, particularly European ones, providing less loan capital in order to meet stricter risk management guidelines, banks and other lenders in the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) are expected to take up the slack. Their Sharia-compliant lending is expected to focus on financing infrastructure and construction. This points toward growing future demand for Islamic bonds to finance large-scale projects, particularly around the Gulf. ·        In future, firms will have to show that they share the values of integrity and community to which Muslims aspire if they are to win the Islamic market. When considering what best promotes demand for goods and services that comply with Sharia, more than (52%) of survey respondents pointed to a reputation for honesty and integrity on the part of the company offering the goods or services. « Go Back © Business-Money.com Ltd

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