Halaljaya gets DPM’s backing

Hub will further boost lucrative industry, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal for Halaljaya to develop, produce and market Malaysia’s halal goods and services to the world has got the backing of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said if Cyberjaya could succeed in developing Malaysia’s information technology sector, the equally lucrative halal industry would get a boost with Halaljaya.

The proposal for the Government to set up Halaljaya was made by a participant at a halal industry dialogue session with Dr Ahmad Zahid here yesterday.

“I agree that the proposal to set up Halaljaya should be considered in order to show that the Government is truly serious in developing the halal industry,” Dr Ahmad Zahid said at a media conference after the dialogue.

Malaysia exported RM42.18bil of halal products last year and aims to increase the figure to RM50bil by 2020.

The event, which saw about 1,000 local halal industry figures taking part, was organised by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC).

The HDC is an agency under the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Malaysia Halal Council, which he chairs, would study the Halaljaya proposal in greater detail at its next meeting, which will be held before the end of this year.

He said it was not necessary for Halaljaya to be located in the Klang Valley as it could also be placed in other areas where land was cheaper.

There is also no need to relocate all the country’s 22 halal parks, as each could continue to operate and complement Halaljaya, he added.

Halaljaya can house many facilities, not just companies involved in making products but also providing services.

It can also be a place where experts can come up with new ideas for halal products and services, in anticipation of future demand.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said he would invite all local chief executive officers of multinational corporations (MNCs) that sell halal products to a meeting that he will chair, to encourage them to use more local suppliers and manufacturers.

He said MNCs must do more to help local players through mentoring or selling goods made by local companies under the MNCs’ own brands.

It will be a win-win situation and not a zero-sum game for all involved, said Dr Ahmad Zahid.