News From : DagangHalal.com (21 Sep 2010)
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed last week in Lahore, between Haji Abdul Malik Kassim, Minister for Trade & Religious Affairs of Penang State Government, Malaysia & Chairman of Penang International Halal Hub (PIHH) and Mr. Asad Sajjad, Secretary General & CEO of Halal Development Council, Pakistan.
Halal Development Council (HDC) is the only registered NGO in Pakistan dedicated to the development of Halal Economy thereby increasing trade and business within the country and exports from Pakistan. Under the MoU, HDC will have exclusive co-operation with Penang International Halal Hub, Malaysia to provide technical advice and consultancy on development of Halal Industrial Parks in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Haji Abdul Malik Kassim, State Minister for Trade of Penang State Government, Malaysia said that Malaysia has strong presence in the market of Halal products. “We do not want to compete, rather we are focusing on complementing each other,” he maintained.
He added that Penang State Government has become a major player in Halal trade in the last two and half years and special efforts would be made on establishment of Halal Industrial Parks in Pakistan. “Today’s MoU is a broad understanding between two parties which will hopefully lead to greater trade relations and hope that Pakistan could become player in the Halal products market as well keeping in view vast potential. He added that investment by local as well as foreign entrepreneurs would be encouraged in this regard.
Asad Sajjad, Secretary General & CEC Halal Development Council (HDC) said that although everything in Pakistan is Halal but Pakistan’s exports are not Halal certified, thereby losing billion of dollars trade potential. “We have a strong identity as a Muslim country but no recognition as suppliers of Halal certified products in the international market,” he added, saying HDC’s goal is to get Pakistani products certified as Halal products. He said Pakistan has vast potential of exporting Halal products. “We have raw material and labour and we need to capitalize on these resources effectively. He was of the view that the ultimate goal of this exercise was to establish Halal Products Export Zones.