Halal business between Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand could reach trillion ringgit

SHAH ALAM - The Halal business industry between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand is capable of reaching a trillion ringgit investment in the future.

Chairman of Selangor Halal Industry Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar said the meetings with businessmen in the two involved countries are actively conducted to establish a regional Muslim businessmen's secretariat in the three countries.

He said these three countries are concerned in developing the halal industry since it can be implemented well, especially the halal food industry.

"The halal industry plays an important role because of its demand to obtain halal food, determination, and quality according to the actual shari'a," he said.

He said this at a press conference after the Coconut-Based Product Marketing Cooperation Ceremony between Citra Resources anda Services and PT Nira Lestari International Indonesia at Dewan Daza Villa, Kampung Perepat, Klang.

Mohd Fakhrulrazi, who is also the Meru assemblymen said that although Thailand is not an Islamic country, they also emphasise the issue of halal certification itself.

He further explained that most of the raw materials for the production of products, especially food in Thailand are mostly taken from non-Muslim countries.

"We should be able to introduce products (raw materials) from us (Malaysia) or even Indonesia.

"For example, Indonesia in terms of raw materials and labor costs are much cheaper than in Malaysia.

"But in terms of technology, Malaysia may be ahead and we also have a lot of help from other government agencies in terms of research, product marketing, and so on," he said.

In this regard, he was confident that the cooperation between the three Southeast Asian countries could be utilised in the framework of the business relationship of the halal industry involved.

"Thailand itself is a country that attracts a lot of tourists, especially from the middle east.

"The development of the halal industry can convince Muslim tourists to come there and this can also introduce products from our country to foreign tourists," he explained.