Pelancaran MIHAS 2007 dan Forum Halal Sedunia 2007 - Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur (Isnin, 22 Januari 2007)

Tahniah kepada penganjur-penganjur bersama atas pelancaran serentak kedua-dua acara tahunan yang penting ini yang secara langsung menyumbang kepada evolusi Malaysia sebagai Pusat/Hub Serantau dan Global untuk produk-produk dan perkhidmatan Halal.

Ianya juga satu contoh jelas, inisiatif bersama antara sektor awam dan swasta dalam usaha menwujudkan satu landasan kukuh bagi membangunkan Industri Barangan Halal di Malaysia. Pelan Induk Perindustrian ke 3 (IMP3) telah menegaskan sebagai satu daripada objektif utama Negara, pembangunan Industri Barangan Halal dan pelbagai strategi, program antara insentif-insentif, telah disediakan kepada syarikat-syarikat yang menceburi Industri tersebut.

Kedua-dua acara akan berlangsung dalam minggu yang sama dalam bulan Mei tahun ini, antara 7hb hingga 13hb dan akan memperagakan peranan Malaysia dalam pengeluaran dan bekalan serta perdagangan produk-produk dan perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan yang telah diiktiraf sebagai Halal, iaitu mematuhi hukum-hukum dan peraturan-peraturan Syariah.

MIHAS 2007 is a major trade exposition, following from the successful MIHAS 2006, in which 392 companies from 17 countries participated with 216 foreign buyers, representing 164 companies, taking part in business matching sessions, which resulted in sales valued at RM168.3 million.

This will be the fourth time MIHAS is being held, and so far, it has attracted exhibitors from over 30 countries, including from India , Iran , Indonesia , Turkey , Egypt and Australia .

As in previous years, Matrade will be bringing into Malaysia , foreign buyers and organizing business - matching sessions, to enable Malaysian companies, especially the small and medium Enterprises to gain access to export markets globally.

This year's theme for MIHAS is "Expanding Halal Frontiers", emphasizing both the potential for expanding the range of Halal products and services which can be produced and expected, as will as expanding the market outreach of such Halal products and services.

It is to be emphasized that Halal products and services should be targeted, not only for the consumers amongst the global Muslim community, but also amongst the greater number of non Muslim, who would readily accept Halal products and services, if they have met global standards of quality, product and service integrity and conform to the prevailing market requirements such as those pertaining to responsible care for the environment and safety standards.

Certainly, meeting such universally accepted standards and market requirement is a mandatory element in the certification of any Halal Product or service. And in this context the Malaysian Halal Standard and the Malaysian Halal Logo, reflect both the requirements of the Syariah laws and regulations pertaining to Halal products and services, as well as market place requirements, such as standards certification, Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Hygiene Practice, Codex alimentarius and HACCP.

Products and services which have been certified as having met the requirements of the Malaysian Halal Standard and have been allowed to use the Malaysian Halal Logo are assured of being not only Syariah compliant, but also are of the highest standards of quality.

In order to optimize the vast potential of the Global Halal Industry and to tap the global market for Halal products and services, there need to be greater understanding of the various aspects of Halal accreditation of such products and services, as well as ensuring that there can be uniformity and homogeneity in the application of Halal standards, globally.

In this context, the world Halal Forum 2007, with the theme "Harmonizing the Global Halal Market", will bring together individuals from the private and public sectors, to deliberate upon issues related to the Halal Market and the application of Halal Standards and accreditation. It is important that those in the Halal Products Industry, in all countries, have common understanding of the manifestations of Halal Standards and certification, in order the ensure that Halal Products and Services can make strong inroads into the global market and contribute towards the rapid expansion of trade in such Halal products and services world wide.

Today, Halal products have begun to find a place in the large retail chains of development countries such as the United Kingdom and France , with companies such as Tesco and Carrefour, carrying Halal products in their outlets in many parts of Europe . In fact, Tesco has now started to sell Halal products from Malaysia in its London stores.

For the first 11 months of 2006, Malaysia exported processed foods valued at RM6.62 billion, an increase of 12.2 % over the corresponding period of 2005; and 25% of such exports were to Islamic countries.

It is important that companies seeking to expand their market outreach for food products, particularly processed foods, meet all the requirements of Halal certification and obtain the Malaysian Halal standard and Logo, so that their products can gain access into both the Muslim and non Muslim markets, abroad.

Halal products are not merely confined to food and other consumables, but extend to a wide range of other products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries, as well as services, such as the financial services.

For the first 11 months of 2006, Malaysia 's trade in pharmaceuticals totaled RM2.92 billion, and trade in cosmetics and toiletries stood at RM1.1 billion.

In the area of financial services, Malaysia has spearheaded several areas of Syariah - Compliant financial activities, enabling the country to gain acceptance as an International Islamic Financial Centre. The growth and development of Islamic Financing and a wide range of financial products to cater for trade and business, have been boosted by a package of enabling policies put into place by the government.

Trade in Halal products and services provide greater opportunities for business linkages amongst companies in the OIC countries. Such linkages can be established through trade in finished products and supply of services, as well as create an intra-OIC outsourcing potential for the companies.

This is possible when some OIC countries can provide Halal raw materials and inputs for processing and manufacturing in other OIC countries, thereby creating an intra OIC supply chain, with the obvious spin offs and advantages.

Certainly, this can help to expand the current intra-OIC trade, which represents only 14.3 percent of the total global trade of the OIC countries.

It is hoped that both MIHAS 2007 and the World Halal Forum 2007 will provide the necessary impetus, to the development of the Global Halal Products and Services Industries, and to making Malaysia the Global Halal Hub.