GEORGETOWN: Penang is on the right track to becoming the centre of the halal industry in the northern region, according to Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC).
Its chief executive officer Hairol Ariffien Sahari said there is a huge opportunity for the industry, for Penang to increase its economic growth by encouraging halal-related businesses to obtain halal certification.
“Halal certifications should not be seen as a religious requirement. It is a serious business and a market force for economic growth due to the change in consumer demands,” he said in a statement on Monday (July 31).
He said it has also become a mark of trust and credibility among the consumers, which greatly affects the growth of a business.
Therefore, he said it makes sense to support Malaysia's vision to be a halal hub globally, through a collective effort between the federal government agencies and the state.
Hairol Ariffien said that more than 900 food products, beverages and food premises had been certified halal in Penang as of February 2023, and that HDC is committed to working closely with the relevant agencies to increase this number.
HDC is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) which co-hosted the Miti Day 2023 on Sunday (July 30) — a one-day event — at Kubang Menerong, Penang.
Miti Day 2023, themed “Perkasa Industri, Maju Ekonomi”, was organised with the main objectives of bringing the ministry closer to the public, as well as increasing the awareness of local small and medium-sized enterprises on business opportunities in Malaysia.
Source : The Edge Markets
