Malaysia Continues to Champion Halal Globally by Providing Developmental Assistance on Field of Halal Standards and Conformance

PUTRAJAYA, 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 – Malaysia through Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) organised the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) on Halal Standards and Conformance Infrastructure 2017 for the 12th year, held from September 11th to 19th in Everly Hotel, Putrajaya. The event was attended by nine participants from eight countries i.e. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia (2) and Sudan, as well as four local participants from mainly government agencies such as JAKIM, Department of Chemistry Malaysia and MITRANS, UiTM.

“Malaysia is happy to share our experience and expertise in Halal with our friends and neighbours. Malaysia’s involvement in promoting the growth of the Halal industry goes back decades,” said YBhg. Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Azhar Bin Hj. Yahaya, Secretary General, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) during the MTCP closing ceremony.

The halal industry in Malaysia is increasingly becoming an important economic driver in contributing to the nation’s GDP. Across the globe, halal industry is worth more than US$2 trillion (RM 8.3 trillion) with the global Muslim population of around 1.6 billion (23 per cent of the total world’s population). In recent years, the halal industry has garnered a fast growing interest across the globe. The major players in this particular industry are not just coming from Muslim-majority countries, but also non-Muslim-majority countries namely China, Japan, United States (US), Brazil and United Kingdom (UK), to name a few.

“With the engagement of various stakeholders in standards development activities, Standards Malaysia has successfully developed more than 5000 Malaysian Standards in 25 sectors, including 14 Malaysian Standards related to Halal” said YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur, the Chairman of the Malaysian Standard and Accreditation Council (MSAC).

The closing ceremony was also attended by YBrs. Mr. Hendy Assan, Undersecretary of International Cooperation & Development Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, YBrs. Mr. Ahamd Faizal Bin Ghazalli, Director of Management Services Division, representing Director General Department of Standards Malaysia and Mr. Ahmad Razif Abd Rahim, Programme Coordinator, Department of Standards Malaysia.

“Furthermore, this training programme includes lectures and briefings by experts from relevant agencies, participation in case studies, country experience-sharing and also a technical visit to Secret Recipe Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. a home grown Malaysian company that makes fine quality premium cakes since 1997These activities is especially tailored to enable participants to understand the roles of standards and accreditation in the field of Halal in Malaysia. I hope that all the participants have gained the necessary knowledge and learned from Malaysia’s experience,” concluded YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur.