Shanghai: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has set an ambitious target of achieving RM150 million in sales during the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in Shanghai, slated for 2025. This target is driven by the participation of 16 rural entrepreneurs and companies under the ministry’s purview.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry, Datuk Abdul Kahar Abdullah, stated that these entrepreneurs are part of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Gate to Global (GTG) programme and other agencies, showcasing their potential to penetrate international markets. These entities have been selected based on their export-ready products, which are halal certified and comply with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certifications.

Abdul Kahar highlighted the recent successes of three local entrepreneurs who have already signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements (MoAs) with Chinese distributors and buyers. These agreements have resulted in total sales worth RM55.5 million, covering products such as bird’s nests, health foods, and spices. The companies involved are Blue Sky Bird Nest Sdn Bhd, Zinon Food Industry Sdn Bhd, and Agym Nutrition Sdn Bhd.

Emphasizing the importance of the GTG programme, Abdul Kahar noted its role in assisting rural entrepreneurs in expanding their market reach internationally. The programme is a testament to the ministry’s commitment to entrepreneur development, focusing on producing high-quality products that meet international standards.

In addition, MARA chairman Datuk Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki expressed the agency’s dedication to collaborating with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to ensure global success for entrepreneurs under MARA’s guidance. He stressed the importance of transforming bumiputra entrepreneurs from local champions into global players, with the MARA-MATRADE partnership being pivotal in promoting international trade.

Asyraf Wajdi further reported that entrepreneurs under MARA have successfully penetrated markets in several countries, including Japan, China, South Korea, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, India, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.