News From : DagangHalal.com (03 Sep 2009)
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) — The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) aims to attract RM500 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) next year to Halal Parks located across the country.
HDC Vice President for Industry Development Nicholas Shariff Collins said Halal Parks received RM700 million in foreign investments this year.
“HDC is currently in talks with some foreign parties, particularly multinational corporations, which have shown interest to invest in the Halal Parks.
“A few will in fact be setting up shop soon,” he told a media briefing on the development of Halal Parks, here Thursday.
According to Collins, two major international companies, F&N and Concept Amenities from Australia, have confirmed their investment in the Halal Parks.
F&N will build a RM300 million plant in the Pulau Indah-based Selangor Halal Hub for the production of milk, condensed milk and beverage products.
Meanwhile, the supplier of shampoo and body care products to hotels and resorts, Concept Amenities, will invest about RM400 million in a warehouse facility in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) Halal Park, also in Pulau Indah.
“We have received a lot of overseas interest and, in fact, there are about 50 small and medium enterprises which would operate in the Halal Parks,” Collins said.
There were 20 Halal Parks located throughout the country developed in cooperation with the respective state governments and the private sectors.
Those that are already in operation include the Halal Park in the PKFZ, Selangor Halal Hub, Pedas Halal Park (Negeri Sembilan), Serkam Halal Food Park (Melaka) and the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub (Sarawak).
The Sungai Petani and Pengkalan Chepa Halal Food Parks are expected to begin operations by year-end while other Halal Parks were still in the planning stage.
Collins said the potential market for halal products was increasing as the majority of the global population want products with high standards of quality, hygiene and safety as required for Halal certification.
The global halal market is worth an estimated US$1.3 trillion and is expected to achieve double-digit growth, every five years.
— BERNAMA