Malaysia: The new halal superpower

Keeping its eye on the growing halal market value, Malaysia is firing on all cylinders to make sure its already impressive reputation in the halal industry becomes second to none. Spearheaded by the world's first development corporation specifically dedicated to the halal sector, the Halal-Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the country is pulling out all the stops in innovation and professionalisation of the halal industry - leaving the Middle East trailing in its wake.

The HDC manages efforts to review standards, develop the local industry and promote Malaysian halal products in international markets. Combining the modern day reliance on information technology with a need to standardise and monitor the halal industry, HDC is working with Microsoft Malaysia to create an internet portal for worldwide halal trading and certification.

Other hot developments in Malaysia include the building on an US$18 million Halal Food Park, due to start operating by 2008. The Kuala Lumpur based company behind the initiative, Prima Agri-Products, expects the food park to produce 200 metric tonnes of halal products a day when at full capacity, exporting 60% throughout the world.

Malaysia's MISC Integrated Logistics Sdn Bhd (MILS) also has plans to create a standard halal certification on handling and processing logistics with various government authorities. In addition, the company is working on a halal logistics freezone hub in Malaysia's Port Klang and a new liner service, aptly named the MISC Halal Express - operating between Port Klang and Singapore, to Colombo, Jebel Ali, Dammam and Karachi. The new service aims to provide exporters and importers with a total end-to-end halal compliant supply chain, complete with faster transit times for temperature sensitive cargo.

Related Reports:
Special report: Halal logistics - Part 1
Special report: Halal logistics - Part 2
Special report: Halal logistics - Part 3

Back To Top