MALAYSIA: Program Transformasi Halal (PTH) to take to the Road, acting on the success of its first big show in Gambang

The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) will not rest on its laurels said its chief executive officer, Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, following the success of its Program Transformasi Halal held in Gambang last month.

 Held for two days and co-organised with the Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), the PTH was a rakyat-stirring event aimed to increase the entrepreneurial spirit among grass roots to take a more serious role in the development of the Halal industry. It was also for the benefit of ATM’s pensioners turn entrepreneurs for the Halal industry.

“We were most appreciative that the PTH in Pahang had attracted close to 20,000 people and visitors over the two days including the foreign media, who witnessed for themselves the earnestness of the industry to become one of distinction, in the world,” said Jamil.

The PTH gathered close to 250 participants from the private sector, SME sector, personnel from the Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), and institutions of higher learning, related GLCs and the general Halal industry.

A hundred pavilions and booths were set up at Gambang displaying all manner of Halal products – existing and new. Multinationals entrenched in the production of Halal products such as the Islamic Finance, food, cosmetics, skincare and few others were also keen participants at the Gambang event.

Their support was a measure of in-depth collaboration that HDC has initiated over the years with some playing the mentor role to SMEs, who aimed at taking up revenue-earning positions along the Halal supply chain.

A one-day seminar was also held for the benefit of entrepreneurs who needed information on the requirements for global participation in Halal international markets. A total of 9 speakers from various agencies and businesses such as Jabatan Agama Islam Pahang, Majlis Amanah Rakrat (MARA), Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad, Flora bee Hive Enterprise, HERbagus Sdn Bhd and Pure Circle Sdn Bhd addressed several urgent and long-term issues related to Halal industry.

“With this experience we intend to mobilize our resources and integrate with the rakyat in other towns as part of our roadshow to demonstrate the message of Halal entrepreneurial development. We need to convey the story of business opportunities in a rising industry that is shared by 1.8 billion other Muslims worldwide.

The HDC hopes to bring the PTH to Jeli in Kelantan in September, Pagoh and then Sarawak. HDC has been recently requested to organise PTH in Johor and Terengganu. Also in the pipeline are international seminars to be held in Brunei, Korea, Pakistan and China and in which HDC will take an active part.

“Of course HDC would not have made PTH possible without the unquestioning support of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Defence, ATM, SUK Pahang, sponsors from the private sector namely Bank Rakyat, Nestle, Felda, F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd, Mamee-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd, Seleraku Trading Sdn Bhd and Pure Circle Sdn Bhd.

“HDC would like to take this opportunity to thank all concerned including PTH’s participants for making the event a success, said Jamil.