Halal Transformation Programme to bring out shared opportunities for Sarawak industry players

• More than 20,000 Visitors Expected At Program Transformasi Halal Negeri Sarawak at Kuching Waterfront
• Lucrative Opportunities for Local Halal Entrepreneurs and Exhibitors

PHOTO: chief executive officer of HDC, Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin at the press conference

Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) has announced that its third Program Transformasi Halal (PTH) will be held in Kuching Sarawak from 16-18 December. The previous two were held in Gambang and Jeli, which attracted thousands of visitors and industry players. Greater awareness was created of the expanding scope of Halal businesses and the markets that are being grown for Halal products and services, PTH Sarawak will be officiated by Sarawak Chief Minister YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on Saturday, 17 December 2011 at the Kuching Waterfront.

In collaboration with the Sarawak State Government, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak and Bahagian Pembangunan Usahawan Sarawak, PTH Sarawak will be held over three days carrying the theme “Waves of Sharing Opportunities”. HDC has designed its Halal Transformation Programme as a roadshow that could reach out to those who are keen to participate in the Halal industry in a bigger way.

HDC intends to enhance community knowledge of Halal as well as to provide opportunities in Halal business to Halal SMEs in Sarawak to link with MNCs, potential domestic investors, job opportunity offerings and introducing non-traditional Halal sectors to be accepted by the masses especially Halal toiletries, cosmetics and health supplements.

PTH Sarawak will also feature Karnival Usahawan dan Rakyat, Seminar Kepenggunaan Halal Malaysia Negeri Sarawak, Seminar Belia HalalJob– Program Pengenalan HALJOB Negeri Sarawak and community-oriented activities for instance Halal Fashion Show, Marhaban dan Nasyid Contest, Children Coloring Contest, Upin & Ipin Show and a mini concert.

“We are expecting SMEs, government agencies, business entrepreneurs, institutions of higher learning,

academicians and researchers, students, and the general consumer publics in Sarawak to come forward to participate in this PTH to tap the Halal opportunities that are being realised.

“The participants of the Program Transformasi Halal will be furnished with the Halal opportunities and the event will provide them with the platform and interaction between GLCs, SMEs and consumers.

“From the success of two previous PTHs in Pahang and Kelantan, we hope to bring the Halal phenomena to Sarawak too. Overall, we expect the participation of 20,000 visitors,” said Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, chief executive officer of HDC.

Some of the participants that have already expressed an interest in PTH Sarawak include HDC’s own Halal Focus Companies and Champion Companies – Herbagus Sdn Bhd and Bee Hives.

Local Halal entrepreneurs who wish to participate in Program Transformasi Halal Negeri Sarawak can contact En Abg Bahthiar Abg Abd Nasser at 012-8592177 or Cik Sabrina Sabri at 019-8895664. Booths are still available to make this event a greater success. Projected number of visitors for Program Transformasi Halal Negeri Sarawak is 20,000 people and will offer economic opportunities for exhibitors’ products and services.

The big corporate names that will continue to support HDC’s PTH events include Tourism Malaysia, KFC Holdings, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak and MARA.

A one-day seminar “Transformasi Keusahawan Hala”l will also be held, inviting speakers to talk in detail of their Halal roles and inputs in the big picture. About 500 participants will be attending the seminar. This seminar is jointly organised with HDC's rakan seminar IPPJ (Institut Pembangunan Pengurusan Johor).

Another attraction for students and job-seekers is the seminar on “PENGENALAN HALAL JOB (HALJOB)” to be held concurrently at Sarawak Tourism Complex on 17 December 2011. The seminar is brought by HDC in collaboration with Universiti Sains Islam, Global Integrity Products & Services, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak and Jabatan Ketua Menteri Negeri Sarawak. It aims to educate students and new graduates on a variety of employment prospects in the Halal industry. It is estimated that closed to 300 youth will be participating in the seminar.

The PTH series is another People First programme of HDC, which underscores HDC’s positioning statement: “Halal Means Business”.