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Abdullah is confident the new hub will become an important commercial center.
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KUALA
LUMPUR, April 11, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) –
Muslim heavyweight Malaysia launched on Monday, April 10, a 10-million
ringgit (2.73-million dollar) hub as part of its continued efforts to
become a global center for exporting halal products.
Inaugurating
the hub Monday, April 10, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was
confident it would become an important commercial center in view of
its strategic location, reported the official Bernama news agency.
The
hub will be located in northern Perlis state which borders Thailand's
majority-Muslim southern provinces.
It
will be a processing and marketing center not only for halal food but
other goods like pharmaceuticals and beauty products.
Malaysia
has been aggressively seeking to have the upper hand in the booming
and lucrative halal industry by becoming a global center for the
manufacture and export of halal products.
Halal
food production zones are already operating or being built in six
Malaysian states, and a sprawling halal distribution hub has been
built at a duty-free shipment zone in southern Johor state, on the
busy Malacca strait.
In
2004, Malaysia organized its first International Halal Showcase
(MIHAS) and later launched a bi-monthly magazine, The
Halal Journal, as the first trade and business publication
serving the global halal marketplace.
The
concept of halal has traditionally been applied to food.
Muslims
should
only eat meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp knife from
their necks, and the name of Allah, the Arabic word for God, must be
mentioned.
Now
other goods and services can also be certified as halal, including
cosmetics, clothing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.
Indonesia
2006 Expo
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The concept of halal has traditionally been applied to food been now cover other products and services.
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Meanwhile,
Malaysian halal industry players will be participating taking have
been urged to participate in the Halal Indonesia 2006 Expo, an
international halal exposition to be held in Jakarta on April 27-29.
"The
high number of Malaysian exhibitors and participants at this expo is a
positive sign that our manufacturers are aware of the rapid growth of
the halal market," said Abdul Kabur, chief executive officer of
Exhibitions Promotion and Management (M) Sdn Bhd (EXPAM).
The
exhibition is organized by EXPAM, a trade and education exhibition
specialist, in tandem with Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI).
Abdul
Kabur confirmed that more than 100 exhibitors, including 30 from
Malaysia, have confirmed their participation.
He
highlighted major opportunities for Malaysian companies to grow the
export of processed foods to Indonesia, the world's most populous
Muslim country.
"Aside
from food products, Malaysian companies can also exploit the business
potential in other segments such as Islamic finance, leather goods,
pharmaceutical, beauty and cosmetics, and logistics."
