Sabah a global halal hub for Malaysia by 2020

 

 KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is ready to play its role as a global halal hub for Malaysia by 2020 as stated in the country’s Industrial Master Plan III, said Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Dato’ Sri Nasir Sakaran.
He said the state government was currently developing a 184-hectare land within the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) in Sepanggar as a halal industrial cluster.
The minister added that Sabah was also working to have the federal government set up a Halal Industry Development Corporation in Sabah to help in exposing and assisting entrepreneurs in the state on matters related to the industry, through activities such as seminars and training courses.
Nasir, in his speech during the Sabah International Halal Showcase 2012 here yesterday, said the halal food market in particular was still highly untapped.
He said the potential in both domestic and international markets was huge, especially with the global Muslim population growing at an estimated rate of 2.2 per cent annually to reach 8.3 billion by 2030.
“According to unofficial figures, the value for Halal food industry currently stood at RM2.3 trillion, and it is estimated that the domestic market alone was worth RM190 billion a year.
“Many are skeptical about this figure, but assuming that each of the 17 million Muslims in Malaysia spend RM10 on average for food daily, it is already more than RM60 billion a year. And if you add the demand from tourists, the industry and so on, RM190 billion is highly realistic,” he said.
The text of his speech was read by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nasrun Mansur, who also officiated at the event on his behalf.
According to Nasir, despite their increasing participation in the business sector, Bumiputera entrepreneurs had yet to penetrate the halal food market.
He noted that most of the food manufacturers and producers in the country were non-Muslim communities, who are increasingly getting involved in exploiting the halal market.
Globally, the biggest producers of halal food are non-Muslim countries such as the United States, Argentina, Australia and China.
Within South East Asia, Thailand had established itself as a strong brand in the halal food industry, he added.
“Efforts to develop this industry need to be coordinated, with involvement from all parties. For the government, more funds are needed to be injected.
“Bureaucracy is seen as one of the major obstacles for the industry, especially in the setting up and certification of companies, but so is the lack of commitment on the part of the operators in meeting the criteria for the halal status. My side will study this issue, to speed things up,” he said.
He also urged existing Bumiputera halal product entrepreneurs to contribute towards the development of the industry, especially in grooming new Bumiputera operators.