IPOH, Nov 27 — Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC) is aiming to organise the Halal Malaysia Tour (JHM) programme at least four times next year, its chairman Khairul Azwan Harun said.
He added that if the tour receives encouraging response this year, HDC would request more allocation from the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to achieve the target.
“The current budget stands at twice a year, if we’re successful with this format in Perak, I think next year we can start organising four events, four separate states definitely.
“The approach is a two-day programme, actually in Ipoh we start spark the tour so it will have a domino effect, when other states know, they will come here. I think we can hold it four times a year,” he said at a media conference after the Perak JHM 2023 launch, which was officiated by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad here today.
He added that the current tour is different from the previous tour in Kelantan early this year as it uses an approach that would benefit halal industry players more, especially those in the micro, small and medium industry in the country, including guidance and business matching sessions and financial access to selected banks.
“More than 10 financial institutions are participating and providing opportunities, so it’s up to the halal industry players to come and gain knowledge and information.
“Alhamdulillah, I see many attending the launch and records show over 400 entrepreneurs participating. Even though it’s not that big a number, it’s meaningful as they have products and want to enter the market, not only domestically but also globally.
“I also expect them to build new business networks through our platform, the Halal Integrated Platform (HIP),” Khairul Azwan said, adding that the corporation had mobilised their digital market place, which currently has 14,000 HIP members.
HIP members would have immediate access to resources and networks in the halal supply chain itself, he said.
In a related development, he said that HDC would partner the state government to develop the talent pool in the halal ecosystem.
Khairul Azwan also shared that in the development of the halal industry, halal-registered or -certified companies as well as those wishing to be certified had to have halal executive workers or halal internal auditors trained by HDC and the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).
So far, the country has over 8,000 registered companies, including multinationals and there were around 6,000 active workers in the halal executive and halal internal auditor roles.
“We take the basic number of 8,000 companies, if Jakim says there has to be two workers with a halal executive or halal internal auditor certificate, that means there are at least 16,000 needed.
“In Perak, if possible, we want to help the state government, so let’s help the youth own these halal certificates and have a shot to build their careers as there is demand,” he added.
— Bernama
