KUCHING: Tanjung Manis Halal Hub will be the nucleus to the development of halal industry in the state, especially in aquaculture, agriculture, tourism, food production, health products and cosmetics.
Abang Johari takes a closer look at various products on display during an exhibition at Hope 2014 in Kuching. — Bernama photo
Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem said the development of halal industry in Sarawak would be among the contributors to the export of the nation’s halal products, currently valued at RM32 billion.
“The area in Tanjung Manis Halal Hub that had been approved by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) with Halmas certification is 124,000 hectares; the biggest halal hub in the region.
“It is the only one that provides facilities to implement upstream, midstream ad downstream activities in the same area, versus other halal hubs or parks that only offer facilities at downstream level,” Adenan said in a text speech read by Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg during the launch of state-level Halal Outreach Programme (Hope) 2014 at Kuching Hilton here yesterday.
According to Adenan, the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub — among the growth nodes of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) — is currently being equipped with the best facilities to face the admission of local and foreign investors by end of 2015.
“Besides that, the Halal Hub Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department is in the process of identifying halal industry players in Sarawak, which will collect data related to the industry’s entrepreneurs, producers, suppliers and dealers in the state.
“The data will include those who have received, yet to receive and have the potential to receive, halal certification from the state Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).”
Adenan said this year alone, a total of 141 companies in the state had been certified halal and out of this figure, 40 were owned by the Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
Breaking it down further, he also noted that out of the 141 companies, nine were multinationals, 76 small industries and 56 small/medium industries.
“In the time that we are actively working to attract local and foreign investors to Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, surely we do not want our local community to be left behind from development there.
“Therefore, business opportunities will be established and promoted more comprehensively in the halal hub area, so as to provide opportunities for the locals or nearby entrepreneurs to be involved.”
Adenan said the business opportunities in industries such as food, tourism, housing, renting of vehicles, laundry and education must be grabbed by the local community.
“We hope that they would be involved in the halal industry and taking advantage of the development in Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.
“Through this initiative, the government through the Halal Hub Unit, wants to see the state as the driver in the halal industry for the whole of Malaysia. This will also increase Malaysia’s image as the main pillar in the world’s halal industry.”
He said the government would be committed in continuing to guide entrepreneurs — existing and potential ones — to be more viable and competitive towards becoming ‘Glokal’ entrepreneurs.
“Therefore, I would like to urge entrepreneurs to strengthen their business, increase quality, improve their competitiveness and further expand the market for their products and services in the halal industry.”
Among those present at the event were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman and HDC deputy chief executive officer Hasni Zarina Mohamed Khan.