@Halal July/August 2022 | Page 23

Building resilience Penang International Halal Expo and Conference returns after two years
July-August . 2022 | @ Halal

Event

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Building resilience Penang International Halal Expo and Conference returns after two years

PENANG Halal International ( PHI ), an agency under the Penang government focusing on the promotion of the halal industry with the cooperation of Penang State Exco Office for Trade , Industrial & Entrepreneur Development , organised the 11th Penang International Halal Expo & Conference ( PIHEC ) on July 1-3 at Setia SPICE Convention Centre , Penang .

The theme for this 11th year of PIHEC was “ Building Resilience and Sustainability Towards Stronger Growth ”.
Prof Annie Koh of The Lee Kong Chian School of Business at the Singapore Management University ( SMU ) was the guest speaker on the theme .
For this year ’ s event , the expo and conference were held hybrid through physical and virtual meetings , business matching and halal industry exhibition .
Since the event could not be organised for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic , PIHEC promoted the halal industry in Penang and boosted the economic sector .
This expo and conference were also supported by the federal government and well-known corporate companies . The sponsors were Penang Development Corporation-PDC ( Platinum ), Grab , Foodpanda , Hong Leong Islamic Bank ( Gold ) and Small Medium Enterprise Bank-SME Bank ( Silver ).
The event also was participated by other States such as Kelantan , Selangor , and Negeri Sembilan .
This event was attended by more than 15 countries from Southeast Asia , the Middle East and North Africa , Europe , East Asia , South Asia , Europe and Asia-Pacific .
About 15,000 visitors thronged the event .
The event ’ s highlight included the memorandum of understanding between PHI with Foodpanda , Grab , and Instituto Halal of Spain .
The conferences discussed topics such as adopting sustainable technology in halal , opportunities in the mega FTAs , logistic challenges due to high inflation , global food security , and many more .
In his launching speech , Chow Kon Yeow , the Chief Minister of Penang , said : “ I am very proud with the initiative that PHI has initiated in promoting the halal industry in Penang and also moving forward the agenda of Penang 2030 .”
Dato ’ Abdul Halim Hussain , as the Penang State Exco for Trade , Industry & Entrepreneur Development and the Chairman of Penang Halal International , in his welcoming speech , said : “ As the State Exco responsible for promoting the halal industry , I supported the initiative to boost the entrepreneurship agenda in Penang , especially in empowering the halal industry .
“ This will be an exposure to the SMEs to promote their products and services .”
Fazil Irwan Som , Chief Executive Officer of PHI , said : “ PHI appreciated the support given by the Penang and federal governments and the corporate sector .”
Sayantan Das , Managing Director of Foodpanda Malaysia , said after the MoU was signed : “ We are honoured to work together to support the efforts of PHI and the Penang government to enhance the capabilities and marketability of SMEs and improve the local economy in the endemic phase ”.
Grab , in the same statement after the MOU , said : “ Grab and PHI are collaborating to create and promote halal awareness among consumers and merchants in Penang ”.