News From : DagangHalal.com (09 May 2009)
Japanese companies are set to gain by learning from the Malaysian experience in the halal industry, its ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horiesaid today.
He said there were vast market opportunities for the Japanese companies to tap, especially in the Middle East and the rest of the Islamic world, and they could learn from Malaysia’s efforts.
“Malaysia wants to become the centre of the halal industry, as in Islamic finance for which the country is already a hub,” Horie told Bernama on the sidelines of the 6th Malaysian International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2009 here.
“I think Malaysia has already become a kind of halal hub and hope this can be expanded in the near future,” he said, adding that the exhibition was among the efforts by Malaysia to raise interest in the halal industry.
Horie said with greater awareness of the halal industry, Japanese companies would be interested in finding ways to produce halal products.
“If they are able to come out with halal products, Japanese manufacturers will find that there is a big market among the Islamic countries,” he said.
Horie said that on his part, he would continue with his efforts to get more Japanese companies to become acquainted with the halal industry.
According to him, a Japanese delegation came to Malaysia recently to learn about the halal industry and how to obtain halal certification.
“I think this is a good sign and hope it will produce results,” he said, adding that he hoped more Japanese groups will come to learn from Malaysia.
MIHAS 2009, with the participation of 29 countries, is being held daily from 10am to 7pm at the Matrade centre until Sunday. It has targeted about 50,000 visitors.
The event recorded the highest foreign participation this year and among the companies taking part for the first time is Atelier des Parfums, a well-known perfume company from France, which is exhibiting its halal perfume products.
Others exhibitors include Miami Food Products, Moghul Spice, Sime Darby, Hwa Tai Industries, Cambridge Herbal, natural local skincare products maker Dr Nabisar Natural, Everbest, ID System Solutions, Inderaputra Food, Iwani Frozen Food, Kart Food Industries and Naturo Health International.
— BERNAMA