CEO & Founder HALAL FOOD Industries PLC. Export Slaughter House, Ethiopia

Profile:

It’s always refreshing to talk with fellow countrymen in foreign lands. Pakistanis living abroad are very passionate about their country and its people.

Jalili can be recognized as the most steadfast, enthusiastic and devoted Overseas Pakistani professional as his thirty four (34) years career was with only one employer - Majid Al Futtaim Group of Dubai, owned by Mr. Majid Al Futtaim. He was the longest serving employee of the group. He is the man who brought DFI, Majid Al Futtaim Group to Pakistan to invest and opened first ever Hypermarket and Shopping Mall in 2008. Today Jalili has become an industrialist and has his own Halal Food set up in Ethiopia, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Blurb 

Peace is vital to bring back FDI & Overseas Pakistanis; we should have more reforms to increase tax base, documented economy and less corruption. The interruption free power can play major role to bring investment.

Evolve: What made you to decide leaving your motherland – Pakistan?  

Mubashir Jalili: My dreams make me to leave motherland and my family at the age of 21. My initial focus was to support family for better living and my professional growth in financial field. I joined Middle East Bank at Lahore and transferred to Dubai in 1979. I served as banker / treasurer in Dubai and Djibouti, East Africa for 18 years and Retail Carrefour / Hyperstar, Shopping Malls in Dubai for next 16 years. My entire career of 34 years was with only one employer - Majid Al Futtaim Group of Dubai, owned by Mr. Majid Al Futtaim – my God Father. (I was the longest serving employee of group). Being Vice President / Head of Treasury and business development Majid Al Futtaim Group I have participated in opening of Carrefour and Shopping Malls in all Middle Eastern countries. 

I am self made man, I have seen the days when I was vendor on the streets of Lahore, when I was junior clerk in Allied bank. It took me 29 years to return to my Motherland as successful corporate official to explore investment opportunities for renowned international Group. I brought DFI, Majid Al Futtaim Group to Pakistan to invest and opened first ever Hypermarket and Shopping Mall in 2008. It was the time to give back to my nation. I have created thousands of direct and indirect jobs and given quality family shopping experience to Pakistanis. I also created export cell to export Pakistani products to Carrefour Dubai.

Evolve: Every journey starts from somewhere; every story has that one moment--an experience, getting desperate, getting fed up; what was your inspiration?

Mubashir Jalili: It was the time when I was at the peak of my successful career at Majid Al Futtaim Group; I felt that there was no more room for further growth in my existing career as Vice President  & Head of Development Pakistan. It was the moment when I felt that I had worked all life for someone else and the time had come now to implement my long time dream to work for myself  where there will be no limitation for progress and success, where I can apply my international experience and exposure to realize my dreams. So I have planned to start food related business due to upcoming food scarcity globally. My dream to excel in international business market was my inspiration to become industrialist from Banker/ Retailer. So this way I started Halal Food Industries.

Evolve: Do you personally believe and support that economic development should be led by the private sector and supported by the public sector?

Mubashir Jalili: Sure, I do believe and support. This is the best way for the economic growth of a country. We have crystal clear example of Dubai, Malaysia and even Ethiopia where public sector supports and creates opportunities for the private sector to lead the economic development. 

Evolve: Please tell us something about your company / organization? How did you reach here? What challenges and hindrances you had to face in your journey?

Mubashir Jalili: Food security is becoming major challenge for world and there will be more food crises in upcoming years. This vision motivated me to go for food business. My company is Halal Food Industries, which is modern Export Abattoir based in Modjo city 70 km from capital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is first foreign investment in this sector in Ethiopia other 8 abattoirs are owned by natives. Halal Food is HACCP / FSMS / ISO 22000-2005 Certified by ISOQAR. Halal Food is first to have waste water treatment plant. We export Chilled Goat / Sheep carcass every day to Dubai. Soon we will start to export to Saudi Arabia and other countries in Gulf region. We are waiting for necessary approvals. Halal Food has capacity of 2500 goats/ sheep to slaughter per shift in first phase; we plan 300 cattle to slaughter in second phase with de boning facilities and rendering / offal processing plant.

The values like Commitment, Continuous learning, Dedication, Honesty, Innovation, Quality & Team work combined with our international experience, enable us to deliver BEST Quality Organic Products. This is not business but our passion. Halal Food is second largest exporter of chilled meat to Dubai within short span of time. This is just because of our market knowledge, customer care and focuses on quality and delivers what our customer demands.

Why Ethiopia? Everyone asks and has perception that Ethiopia is country where there is hunger and famine, but it is not reality. Ethiopia has largest number of Goats / sheep in Africa and exporter of various food products to many countries.The economic policies of Ethiopia are very encouraging and export oriented. It includes cheap and reliable power, less corruption, religious harmony and high tolerance level. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ranks Ethiopia as among the five fastest growing economies in the world. After a decade of continuous expansion (during which real GDP growth averaged 10.8% per annum), in 2013/14 the economy grew for its 11th consecutive year posting 10.3% growth. It was tough journey to success but we have crossed the bridge with dedication consistency and commitment with continuous support of ministry of Industry and Agriculture.

Evolve: How do you perceive the role of marketing to make the business successful?

Mubashir Jalili: Marketing is back bone of any business; rather it is oxygen for business. The marketing through electronic and print media is essential. The word of mouth by satisfied and happy customer is very effective.

Evolve: Do you find any conflicts on your way while working in various economic environment having entirely different practices? Is there alignment or misalignment at the different levels?

Mubashir Jalili: No, we did not find any conflicts during course of working in different economic environment. Our understanding, flexibility and respect for the law of land are the keys to success.

Evolve: How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?

Mubashir Jalili: It is difficult task to choose and bring dedicated, honest and caring manpower to work according to our plan and style. We select young graduates in respective field and train them in our style to achieve our goals.

Evolve: How do you generate new ideas and how long do you stick with an idea before giving up?

Mubashir Jalili: Ideas are generated by positive thinking, knowledge sharing and traveling; I believe in “Think Big”. Wild dreams are major source of ideas. We conceive Ideas, do brain storming based on research with an intelligent financial feasibility. Then it comes to take the consent of regulatory authority with a decision of going ahead or not. We don’t give up any idea until or unless all parameters do not show negativity.

Evolve: What habits and what mindsets helped make you successful? Do you believe that there is some sort of pattern or formula to get success?

Mubashir Jalili: Positive Thinking, Honesty, Consistency, Hard work, Vision and Flexibility are the major ingredient for success. 

Evolve: What makes you happy and what has been your most satisfying moment in business?

Mubashir Jalili: Alhamdolilah, Allah Almighty has always blessed me, My family is source of my happiness. The satisfaction of customers, growth in business, realization of dream and plan for further expansion or new venture is satisfying moments for me. 

Evolve: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

Mubashir Jalili: I admire Majid Al Futtaim Group and all other professionally managed organizations who add value to society / working on CSR program.

Evolve: Do you have any plans for Pakistan in terms of starting any venture or project, if yes then in which sector and what sort of help you want from Government side?

Mubashir Jalili: Yes, we do have plans to start up venture in Pakistan, there are huge opportunities. We plan to start venture in high end exotic food with entertainment.

Evolve: How do you opine that what reforms are crucial to be made to bring overseas Pakistani’s investment back in Pakistan?

Mubashir Jalili: Peace is vital to bring back FDI & Overseas Pakistanis; we should have more reforms to increase tax base, documented economy and less corruption. The interruption free power can play major role to bring investment.

Evolve: Any message for Pakistanis?

Mubashir Jalili: Young Pakistanis are intelligent; more concentration on education and skill is required. We should have more tolerance in our daily life and consistency in professional life. Pakistan is country full of resources, it is dynamic place. We should aim to become one of major economies of the world. We should stop short cuts but to work properly for better national interest.