Local News
@ Halal | MARCH-APRIL . 2023
Setting halal benchmarks for entrepreneurs Value of Malaysia ’ s domestic halal market to increase to RM400 billion
DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said benchmarking for the issue of halal certificates to entrepreneurs will be published soon
Zahid , also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development , stated that the matter was recently discussed with the International Trade and Industry Ministry ( MITI ) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ).
“ We will coordinate according to the benchmarks that have been determined and have a look at the conditions issued ,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Mara Halal Industrial Park recently .
“ In the next halal meeting , I will ask for a certain period so that benchmarking can be done on whether it ( the application ) has passed or not passed or requires some improvement . There must be a period for improvement and not too long as well . It will be determined by JAKIM , the Halal Development Corporation ( HDC ) and MITI .”
Meanwhile , Zahid stated halal prospects were vast , with worldwide halal trade predicted to reach RM22.34 trillion by 2030 .
“ The value of Malaysia ’ s domestic halal market is projected to increase to RM400 billion , thus contributing 11 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) by 2030 ,” he stated .
During the ceremony , he announced the rebranding of the Mara Food Industry Complex ( KIMAR ) to Mara Halal Industrial Park .
Mara ’ s feat of having practically the whole halal entrepreneurial ecosystem is something to be proud of , according to Zahid .
He described the ecosystem as including training facilities to create human capital , company development , and support facilities such as incubators . These commercial premises fulfil halal industry criteria , logistics , and access to domestic and international markets .
According to Zahid , the halal industry has been identified as a strategic and highimpact sector under the 12th Malaysia Plan , which will increase Malaysia ’ s capacity and capability in increasing workforce development , industrial development , and product competitiveness and establishing Malaysia as a global halal hub .
He stated that through Mara ’ s halal industry development initiative last year , 12,500 entrepreneurs benefitted from entrepreneurship facilities like training , grants , company financing , and renting premises .
These entrepreneurs , he said , have generated more than RM2 billion in annual sales and have created more than 15,000 job possibilities , adding that he will return to the Mara Halal Industrial Park in the next six months to assess developments .
Malaysia to sign halal pact with Indonesia in June
THE Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry expects Malaysia and Indonesia to sign an MoC in June to promote halal sector trade .
Nizar Ali , its secretary-general , said the ministry ’ s Halal Product Assurance Agency ( BPJPH ) and the Malaysian Department of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ), negotiated the MoC since the middle of last year and finalised it last month .
“ The MoC ’ s draft has already been finalised , and any revisions must be discussed with the BPJPH , Jakim and the director of Malaysia ’ s Halal Council ,” he stated .
JAKIM Director-General Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff and the Malaysian embassy ’ s religious counsellor Muhammad Naqzrul Azraf Mohd Nazarludin visited Nizar ’ s office recently .
The Indonesia-Malaysia halal MoC is expected to be inked during Indonesian President Joko Widodo ’ s visit to Malaysia in June .
Hakimah also believed the halal industry in Indonesia , Malaysia , and Singapore would be more systematic than in Europe .
Fertiana Santy , the BPJPH cooperation coordinator , said halal business players eagerly awaited the MoC .
“ The countries will recognise each other ’ s halal certificates ,” she said .
The 2022 Annual OIC Halal Economic Report lists Malaysia and Indonesia as the top 20 halal exporters .
Engaging halal in the Dutch business industry
THE Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation ( MATRADE ) organised an industry engagement session on Mar 13 in Utrecht , the Netherlands , to promote the halal sector and the Malaysia International Halal Showcase ( MIHAS ) 2023 to Dutch businesspeople .
MARTRADE recently announced the Halal Quality Control organised the HQC ID 2023 .
The HQC ID received overwhelming reaction from over 70 crucial Dutch halal industry participants , including industry and business specialists in halal food and non-food sectors .
In her opening remarks at HQC ID , Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands , Datuk Nadzirah Osman , said that with 1.9 billion Muslims making up 25 per cent of the world ’ s population , the halal industry was essential to both Muslim and non-Muslim
BANK ISLAM Malaysia Berhad ( Bank Islam ) inked a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with Persatuan Syarikat Pengendalian Pelancongan Bumiputera Malaysia ( BUMITRA ) to provide financial solutions for prospective hajj pilgrims .
This initiative is via 22 Pengelola Jemaah Haji ( PJH ) companies appointed by Lembaga Tabung Haji ( TH ), who are also members of BUMITRA . customers .
Halal certification shows transparency and confidence in its methods , she said .
Since the halal certificate is the ultimate proof of achieving those standards , the added value guarantees consumers high-quality items . She said the accreditation tracks raw materials to completed products .
MATRADE discussed halal business prospects across industries at the HQC ID event .
Emeliana Zainol , MATRADE ’ s Rotterdam Trade Commissioner said that European consumers , Muslims and non-Muslims , increasingly favoured halal .
In addition to halal , Malaysian enterprises should capitalise on rising trends like functional food , free-from food categories like gluten-free , sugarfree , lactose-free , vegan or vegetarian
The MoU also aims to affect a partnership and knowledge-sharing session educating BUMITRA members on financing solutions Bank Islam provides , especially for Hajj andUmrah . The collaboration area includes disseminating information regarding the facilitiesand services offered .
Among the services include Debit Card-i Bank Islam Visa Tabung Haji . The debit card has various unique
food , plant-based food , and sustainable food .
MATRADE would promote halal , notably through MIHAS , the trade commissioner said .
She said the session promoted Mihas 2023 and encouraged Dutch companies to source from Malaysia using MATRADE ’ s International Sourcing Programme ( INSP ).
Last year , Malaysia traded RM48.04 billion with the Netherlands , its second-largest European trading partner .
Malaysia exports RM42.08 billion to the Netherlands , its largest European market .
Bank Islam and BUMITRA ink MoU to help pilgrims
features and exclusive rewards for cardholders . Besides offering a vast payment network and cash access worldwide , the card facilitates financial transactionsfor hajj pilgrims in Arab Saudi , including waiving the charges for cash withdrawals duringhajj season .
At the event , Bank Islam also launched a campaign , ‘ Once in a Lifetime ’, especially for potential Hajj or next of kin who