Warana Sugar Gulf Trading, which is part of Warana Sugar (India), has unveiled its halal certified sugar yesterday also announced plans to penetrate the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market this year, immediately after launching in the UAE.

GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

According to a statement released here, Kazi Mufti Mohamed Kifayathullah Baqavi, a recognised official, has issued a 2 year halal certificate to Warana Sugar valid from November 20, 2011 which confirms that Warana sugar is lawful and permitted for human consumption and fit for Muslim community.

In the Middle East, there is currently a shortage in capacity of about 3 Million MT of sugar while the EU's consumption requirement is forecasted at about 2 million MT in the next 2-3 years.

The official document states that the high-tech processing machineries at the company's manufacturing plant contains no Haram (Islamically forbidden) ingredients and other elements of impurities such as alcohol, chemical substances and materials whole or part which are or have been derived from terrestrial and marine animals, pork, lard and by products.

Industry estimates published in 2009 revealed that the UAE's sugar consumption is at nearly 140,000 tonnes per year, calculated based on the annual per capita sugar consumption of 34 kilogrammes per year, which is higher than the world average of 24 kilogrammes. The region's annual sugar consumption is at 12 million tonnes, of which 8.5 million are imported.