Big push for Halal industry

KUCHING: Sarawak has all the ingredients to be a successful halal industry hub in the region, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He said the State Government had identified specific areas such as Tanjung Manis, Km15 Jalan Samarahan/Siburan, Highland Agropol in the Bario Highlands and Demak Laut Industrial Estate, where the industry could be concentrated.
“Through the various initiatives taken by the Government to develop the halal industry in Sarawak, and with the help and assistance of various government agencies such as the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) itself, there is no reason why Sarawak cannot be a halal industry hub in the region,” he said in his speech when launching the Halal Industry Development Seminar held at a leading hotel here yesterday.
He added that the missing links were the involvement and commitment of the various ministries and agencies, as well as the cooperation of the entrepeneurs as a whole.
“We have all the ingredients to be successful in the halal industry, as we have the land, resources and conducive climate for its implementation,” he said.
His text of speech was read by State Housing Minister, Dato Sri Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg.
Taib, who is also the Minister of Planning and Resource Management, added that the State would develop the industry under the proposed Halal Park which would become the catalyst for the development and growth of the agricultural sector.
“The halal industry will open up a new chapter for the economic development in Sarawak to further elevate the socio-economic status of our people,” he said.
However, the Chief Minister cautioned that in order to succeed and compete with other emerging halal producers and providers such as Thailand, Indonesia, China and Australia, Sarawak would have to upgrade its qualities on research and development (R & D), human resource development, product development, clinical utilities and testing, packaging, branding and marketting.
“We have to create awareness and acceptability of halal products and services, not just among the Muslims but non-Muslims, too” he said.
He said Sarawak would focus on halal products and services such as logistics, tourism, daily produce and health care products.
“We can succeed in this industry as our halal certificates issued by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Sarawak Islamic Department (JAIS) are being increasingly recognised by all the Islamic countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of HDC, Dato’ Jamil bin Bidin, said Malaysia should compete for the halal industry in view of its huge potential.
He urged those interested in the industry to take all the neccesary steps and process to comptete with other countries in the world.
“HDC’s target is to increase our share of the global halal market from the present 5.8% to 8.7% by 2020,” he said.
Jamil said HDC was established on September 18, 2006, to promote Malaysia to be among the top global halal producers.
He said HDC’s action plan from 2008-2010 was to attract investors in the development of the small and medium industries in the country.
“We hope to cooperate further with Sarawak with the launching of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) soon,” he added.
Among those present were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Haji Daud Abdul Rahman, Assistant Minister Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Entrepreneur’s Development) and HDC Chairman Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim and the Director of the State Planning Unit, Ismawi Ismuni.

Bario eh??