Kuala Lumpur: Halal Malaysia (HALMAS)-certified halal industrial parks have attracted a cumulative investment of RM16.75 billion over the period from 2012 to 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MITI Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong revealed that a total of 14 HALMAS industrial parks have been established across the nation. Out of the total 5,484.74 hectares allocated for trade and investment activities, 841.18 hectares, or 15.3 percent, have been developed successfully. The industrial parks are home to 361 companies, including 51 multinational corporations and 310 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), operating in sectors such as food and beverages, cosmetics, and personal care. Liew shared these insights during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, responding to an inquiry from Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis) regarding the ministry’s strategies to assist the Sarawak government in globally promoting the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.
Liew also noted that the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), under MITI’s guidance, is conducting a comprehensive study to refine the HALMAS framework, which includes the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub. A private consulting firm is aiding in this dedicated study to pinpoint challenges and gather actual findings from industry players, with completion expected by the first quarter of 2025. The framework encompasses operational methods, governance mechanisms, and relevant incentives.
Liew emphasized the need to bolster the halal industry value and supply chain to position Malaysia as a global halal hub. This involves making halal industrial parks more industry-friendly through four main actions: promoting HALMAS parks as investment destinations, creating innovative support and facilitation services, enhancing shared services, and fostering business integration through digital platforms.
In the meantime, the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub has secured investments totaling RM18 million, involving one foreign company and two local subsidiaries of the state government. The hub, spanning 4,040.38 hectares, has seen the development of 197.16 hectares for essential infrastructure, agricultural activities like pineapple cultivation, and aquaculture activities such as shrimp farming.