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Last Updated: Sep 25th, 2006 - 11:36:04 |
Centre to help food producers tap European halal mart
By Anna Maria Samsudin
bt@nstp.com.my
September 9 2006
THE Netherlands Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is setting up an Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality regional office to help Malaysian food producers tap the European Union's huge halal market.
To be launched by Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on September 12, the office is a one-stop centre to further enhance agricultural cooperation between Malaysia and the Netherlands.
Agricultural Counselor Adrie de Roo said the office would serve as an effective platform to link Malaysian food producers to Europe's 35 million halal market.
He added that a halal facility at the Rotterdam Port, scheduled to be completed by mid-2007, would further provide greater access to the European halal market.
"Our expertise and connections to the European Union would certainly assist Malaysians food producers in tapping into the lucrative halal market there," he told Business Times via a phone interview yesterday.
In addition to halal market, de Roo said, the Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality regional office also seeks to enhance bilateral agriculture cooperation and facilitate agricultural business between the two countries.
He said the centre will promote sharing of knowledge and expertise as well as provide link-ups for industry players.
"We are certainly looking forward more co-operation and new common agriculture projects between the Netherlands and Malaysia.
"Some of the areas we could further develop include fish farming, tropical fruits as well as dairy business," he added.
The Netherlands has set up 33 agriculture offices worldwide, including Singapore, Japan, Mexico, Africa, the US, Europe and the Middle-East .
The Netherlands was the 10th largest importer of Malaysian products last year and a leading importer of palm oil, palm oil-based products and timber and wood furniture.
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