Halal agenda as one of the core element in IMP3

Food Industry To Be Expanded Under IMP3, Emphasis On Halal Food
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 2006 (Bernama)

The food processing industry will be expanded and diversified towards making Malaysia a regional food production and distribution hub, with particular emphasis on halal products, under the third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3).

It is the government's objective to make Malaysia the global halal hub for the production and trade in halal goods and services, said the IMP3 report released by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry here Friday, said.

It is envisaged (future posibility) that by 2008 (?)Malaysia will be the centre for the production and distribution of halal products and service, the reference on the halal standard and research and development (R&D) base for halal matters. The halal industry covers food, non-food products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as services, including logistics, tourism and marketing.

The report said that to expand Malaysia's food processing industry, the government would also upgrade human resource and technology, enhance R&D, undertake the production and export of high-value added and niche products, and adopting quality standards. Targets have been set on investments and exports for the industry, with total investments set at RM24.6 billion for the entire IMP3 period, or RM1.6 billion per annum.

Meanwhile, exports are targeted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.8 per cent to reach RM24.2 billion by 2020, the report said. It said that since the food industry was less vulnerable (easily influenced) to economic changes, with global retail sales in food products expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.8 per cent to US$6.4 trillion in 2020, Malaysia will need to take advantage of this trend to become the regional food processing hub, especially for the global Muslim markets. Three main factors identified to drive the demand for food products are changes in disposable incomes, changes in consumer demand and global trade liberalisation.

The report said growth areas that have been identified are convenience foods, functional foods, food ingredients and related support services. As for halal food, global market value for trade in halal food and non-food products are estimated at US$2.1 trillion annually. The report said that 11 strategic thrusts have been set for the development and promotion of Malaysia as the global halal hub. These include 1. enhancing awareness on Malaysia as the centre for halal products, 2. managing the competition, 3. leveraging upon outward investments to gain access to raw materials, 4. enhancing R&D and 5. developing halal services. Others are 6. utilising and leveraging Malaysian halal standard, 7. ensuring quality and safety, 8. undertaking systematic development of halal parks, 9. harmonising certification process, 10. enhancing coordination and 11. strengthening institutional capacity.

However, the report said that there are several challenges that needed to be addressed in order for Malaysia to become a regional food production and distribution hub, such as insufficient supply of raw material, technology and product development, quality and safety and market access. To overcome this, the government has set seven strategic thrusts, which include ensuring availability of raw materials supply, expanding and diversifying food processing activities and promoting the growth of targeted areas. Others are enhancing sectorial linkages and support services, intensifying R&D, enhancing competitiveness overseas, strengthening human resource development as well as institutional support and delivery systems.-- BERNAMA

sumber : http://web5.bernama.com/events/imp3/?type=no&id=214739

* Apa agaknya perkembangan industri Halal di Malaysia? Harapan ambo agar industri Halal ini berkembang dengan tersusun dan berstrategik dengan bimbingan dan pimpinan kumpulan ulamak dan ilmuan Islam yang benar-benar diakui kredibiliti mereka, bertqwa kepada Allah agar salah satu agenda Ummah yang amat besar ini dapat dijayakan dengan mendapat rahmat dan keberkatan dari Allah. Janganlah urusan yang besar ini hanya dikaut dan dimonopoli oleh golongan tertentu yang hanya mahu mengaut untung & habuan dunia yang sementara dan berasaskan urusan perniagaan semata-mata. Yang kita mahukan, untung di dunia dan untung di akhirat.