Business
MALAYSIA: Matrade Mission to Shanghai Generates RM341 Mln in Potential Sales
The specialised marketing mission to Shanghai, China, led by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp's (Matrade) chairman, Datuk Mah Siew Kong, generated potential sales of RM341 million. Matrade said in a statement that the 13-member mission, from Sept 21-23, 2011, focussed on airline catering, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and healthcare services. The mission successfully concluded a RM300 million potential joint venture project in healthcare services, generating a potential sale of RM15 million for food and beverage and RM26 million in MRO services. Mah said Halal catering has yet to take off in China but the airlines expressed their keenness to consider Malaysia as a sourcing destination for Halal meals.
MALAYSIA: Rural Products Need To Be Promoted As Viable, Attractive Items
Rural products need to be promoted as viable and attractive items that meet the taste of consumers in an effort to boost its network value in the market, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. He said this method could convince the people that rural products were actually of quality and guaranteed to be Halal. "This belief must be imbued in the mind of consumers so that they will have confidence in our own products," he said
MALAYSIA: TM, JAKIM to Develop Halal Portal
TM Info-Media Sdn Bhd (TMIM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Bhd, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Development Deparment Malaysia (JAKIM) for the development of a Halal portal. Under the collaboration, TMIM which also publishes the Yellow Pages directory is responsible for developing and maintaining the Halal portal while JAKIM provides the list of companies that have been granted Halal certificates. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom witnessed the signing ceremony here.
Filed Under: Products & Services
MALAYSIA: New International Halal SME Report Directory a Boon for Halal Entrepreneurs
What would it take for a newly start-up company or a local small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to reap the much-talked about multi-trillion dollar global Halal market? According to reports within the newly published The International Halal SME Report Directory 2011/12, Halal entrepreneurs need to be hard working, technology savvy and have strong business alliances, just like any other businesses within any other industries.
Filed Under: Products & Services
MALAYSIA: Compete On Price and Quality, Malaysian Halal Firms Urged
Malaysian companies involved in the Halal business have been urged to be competitive in their price and branding strategy. Making the call, Halal Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said the companies should equip themselves with enough knowledge on price, branding and quality competitiveness. If these criteria are not given due consideration, the companies may face difficulty to compete with imported Halal goods which might be cheaper than what we have to offer. Certification alone is not enough for Malaysian companies in the Halal business to grow and compete regionally and internationally," he said in his speech at the Halal Fiesta (Halfest) 2011 launch here today.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia Has Potential to Be Top Global Halal Player, Says Mustapa
Malaysia has the potential to be the number one player in the global Halal food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, says Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said Malaysia had proven its capabilities in many areas of the Halal industry, and that it could repeat the success in the Halal food industry as well. Malaysia has been very successful in the Islamic Finance and Banking industry and now it is time to focus in other areas of the large industry, he told reporters after launching the inaugural Halal Fiesta (HALFEST) 2011, here.
MALAYSIA: Sarawak CM to Visit Middle East in Early 2012 to Pursue Biz Opportunities
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will visit the Middle East early next year to follow-up on business opportunities arising from last month's launch of the investment report, "Inside Sarawak 2011". Asia Director of Inside Investor, Imran Saddique said today the forthcoming trip was also a follow-up to Taib's visit to Abu Dhabi in January this year, as part of a more than 100-strong Malaysian delegation, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for the Invest Malaysia Forum 2011.
MALAYSIA: PM's Visit to Kazakhstan Strengthened Bilateral Ties - Anifah
The official visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Kazakhstan in June was to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. He said the visit also resulted in enhanced cooperation on the economic front with both nations embarking on several signature projects in the oil and gas, Islamic banking, contruction and halal food industry sectors.
Filed Under: Trade & Investment
AFRICA: Frimax Foods
For the past 30 years, South African snack food manufacturer Frimax Foods has been using its local knowledge to provide innovative products to consumers across the country and beyond. Jane McCallion finds out the key to success for this family-run business. Frimax Foods is South Africa’s largest indigenous producer of potato and corn based snacks. Founded in Pietermaritzburg by three bothers in 1982, it is now owned and managed by founder Haroon Essa and his three sons, supplying both large supermarket chains and independent shops across the country. In 1997, it moved to Verulam, near Durban, in order to better service its clients nationwide. This dedication to service is Frimax’s trademark and has been recognised with a number of awards won throughout the years. Most recently, it was presented with a Certificate from the South African Food Safety Corporation for its commitment to food safety.
Filed Under: Products & Services
MALAYSIA: Lack of Cleanliness Will Affect Tourism Industry - Yen Yen
Cleanliness or the lack of it remains a thorn in the flesh which can adversely affect the country's tourism industry, if not given serious attention by all relevant authorities. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said about 300 complaints were received from international tourists, mostly on unsatisfactory level of cleanliness at food outlets, markets, toilets and hilly parks, including national parks. "Tourist arrivals have dropped slightly because of the cleanliness problem. There are more dirty places than clean places," she told reporters. However, accurate statistics on tourist entry has not been obtained and the ministry was still waiting for reports from the related agencies, she said.
Filed Under: Tourism