Malaysia to become truly global halal hub by 2020
KOTA KINABALU: Local companies must bring their products to a higher level to meet global standards and expectations, particularly on Halal products.
“Much needs to be done in terms of improving production capacity, product reliability, product presentation and packaging as well as effective marketing strategy,” said MARA Chairman Dato Dr Awang Adek Hussin yesterday.
Dr Awang Adek also shared that in MARA, efforts were being made to produce world-class entrepreneurs through the setting up of a Global Quality Standard based on International Standard for local Malaysian products.
He was speaking at the Sixth MARA–OISCA International Business Forum held at the Magellan Sutera Resort on Tuesday. The theme of the forum was ‘Enhancing Entrepreneurial Networking'.
At the same time, MARA is also actively involved in the Halal Industry development programme through the establishment of the MARA Halal Park in various states in the country and the MARA Food Industry Complex (KIMAR) in Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, he said.
“This has contributed to the growth of the Halal industry as well as the implementation of the food safety assurance system in accordance with established standards,” he said.
Dr Awang Adek also said that Malaysia, with its comprehensive and systematic Halal business ecosystem, has become one of the key players in the global halal food industry.
“Malaysia aims to become a truly global halal hub by the year 2020. With its strategic location, good infrastructure facilities and rapid expansion of small and medium business enterprises, as well as international recognition as a modern and progressive Islamic country, it has become a natural choice for the Halal Hub to flourish,” he said.
He added that according to MITI, the export of Halal products amounted to RM42 billion in 2016 and continues to grow.
“It is very small compared with the global Halal market of USD2.3 trillion. It has been estimated that a total of 1,257 SMEs have been involved with the exports of Halal products and services in Malaysia. Given the opportunities in this forum and the interest of Japanese businesses to source Halal food for the coming Olympics in Japan, we are sure more SMEs will join the export market in the years to come,” he said.
He also hoped that the forum would provide a platform for entrepreneurs in the halal food and beverages to be among the major providers for the athletes in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“Our local entrepreneurs should take advantage of the presence of Japanese counterpart in this forum, to learn as much as possible their requirements and opportunities in the coming Olympic Games,” he urged.
He then added that he would like to see many actual business deals materialising, in addition to business matching and networking.
At the same time, he also suggested that the relationship and cooperation between MARA and OISCA be expanded into other entrepreneurial programmes such as business incubator, business attachment and internship, business start-up consultation, business enhancement training and consultation and business and industrial study tours.
He then expressed his confidence that the close cooperation between MARA and OISCA will create entrepreneurs trained and exposed to two great cultures, Japanese and Malaysian, which will render great meaning to the country's Look East Policy, while at the same time charting the country's competitive position in Asia as the fastest growing economic region in the world.
He also said that the forum was held at the right time given that the TPP, now named Comprehensive and Progressive TPP, was now back in action with countries pushing for its passage even without the US.
“I am sure much more trade and investment will take place in member countries with CPTPP. This will be great for Japan and Malaysia, and excellent news for MARA and OISCA,” he said.
Dr Awang Adek also noted that the relationship between MARA and OISCA started in 1967 through its industrial training programme in Japan. He said, the programme enabled students from Malaysia to gain experience, technological knowledge and the opportunity to learn and emulate Japanese work culture, values and ethics.
He added that the longstanding relationship between MARA and OISCA reflected in OISCA's continuing trust and confidence in MARA.
“In fact, OISCA International Japan has facilitated more than 1,000 of our students not only to continue their studies but to also undertake their industrial and internship training in Japan, in areas of automotive, welding, nuclear, solar and new strategic technology,” he said.
He explained that all the programmes were designed to produce highly skilled workforce, globally competent technologists, and potential technopreneurs who manifest good values and virtues in their job practices.
He also said that many MARA graduates who underwent OISCA internship programmes were now leaders in their respective industry in Malaysia.
“These successful technopreneurs are playing a big role in gearing up our nation's economy. Currently, more than 50 Bumiputera entrepreneurs under MARA programmes have business relations with Japanese companies, with estimated business value of over RM200 million. These entrepreneurs have in turn created employment opportunities for more than 2,000 people,” he said.
Also present at the event on Tuesday were the Ambassador of Japan in Malaysia, Dr Makio Miyagawa, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Malaysia, Qaley Allah Verdiyevs, Rural and Regional Development Ministry Chief Secretary, Dato Borhan Dollah, MARA Director General Dato Azhar Abdul Manaf, OISCA International Executive Vice President, Toshihiro Nakano, and OISCA International Vice President, Dato Sri Ibrahim Ahmad.