News From : DagangHalal.com (25 May 2009)
NESTLE (Malaysia) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and the National Small-Medium Enterprise Council (Nasmec) to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises in the food and beverages industry.
Under the agreement, an e-learning online portal will provide a one-stop education, reference and solution centre for SMEs, and workshops and seminars will be offered to upgrade their services and performance in compliance with international quality standards.
The MoU also marked a new phase in the Food Industry Mentoring programme jointly organised by Nestlé and the council since 1999, now to be called the Nestle-Nasmec-HDC F&B Mentoring Programme.
Nestlé will support the programme’s funding and promotions, and provide consultation and expertise for workshops and seminars. The council will be responsible for the facilitation of the e-learning portal where it will offer online training, while HDC will provide halal certification and requirements.
Nestle Malaysia managing director Sullivan O’Carroll said the MoU was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility effort to share its expertise and provide assistance to local SMEs in the F&B industry.
“We can help them add value and raise the quality standards of their products to enable them not only to compete in the global environment, but also win consumer confidence in local products,” he said.
O’Carroll said the two biggest weaknesses in local SMEs are the lack of strong financial backing and product branding – which the three parties will help overcome.
HDC CEO Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said halal primarily means the item is clean and safe for all, and not that it is just suitable for Muslims. “We welcome every SME in Malaysia regardless of race or religion to come join our programme, and we urge local SMEs to use our services to help them gain access to the global Muslim market,” he said.
Nasmec chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng noted that the F&B and pharmaceutical industries were the only two sectors which have managed to remain resilient despite a global economic downturn.
“Although SMEs exported RM6 billion in F&B products last year, they will have to further improve their quality standards to maintain the confidence of global customers. What happened in China (melamine food scare) last year serves as a good lesson for all of us,” he said.
Source:Sun2Surf