Malaysia to step up halal internationalisation initiatives
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will ramp up initiatives to internationalise its halal concept and show that the market extends beyond halal food products.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this at the Malaysia Halal Council meeting on Tuesday.
“Through new international programmes, we hope to attract the world to utilise Malaysia as a global halal excellence centre.
“These programmes include the Multaqa International Halal Authority Board and Halal Innovation and Technology Exhibition.
“Having such programmes will make the world realise that Malaysia is special and not limited to only halal food products.”
He said Malaysia would benefit from the halal industry, which had been identified as a new source of economy via the Islamic Economic Transformation Programme.
He said the halal industry had the means to change the Islamic economic pattern, making it more competitive.
He said since the Malaysia Halal Council was formed on June 8 last year, it had executed various initiatives to ensure the country’s halal ecosystem remained robust, thus putting Malaysia in the driver’s seat in the halal industry.
Zahid launched the Smart Halal application aimed at sharing with consumers accurate information relating to the halal status of products.
The application is developed by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and the Islamic Development Department. It can be downloaded via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.