News From : DagangHalal.com (22 Jul 2009)
Bandar Seri Begawan – A one-day workshop aimed at nurturing local Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) towards achieving international standard in food production and enhancing their capability to compete in the global halal market was held yesterday.
The workshop was also to provide participants with a clear perspective on Brunei’s comprehensive Halal Agenda and the possible roles that they might play within the overall Halal programme; and provide SMEs with a clear understanding of the assistance and support available through various government agencies. It was also to give local entrepreneurs a broad understanding of the halal market and the national halal initiative, thus enabling them to align with the national agenda and make use of all available facilities offered by the government to capitalise the opportunities emerging from the vast expanding global halal market.
The workshop which was conducted by experts from Imarat Consultants is also used as a fact-finding exercise to gain better understanding of the challenges facing local SMEs in order to design effective programmes to strengthen the SMEs in the halal sector.
The talks and discussions during the workshop focused on a number of topics included “Opportunities in the Global and Regional Halal Markets” and “Implementing Brunei’s Halal Agenda” delivered by Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PJDSMDSU (Dr) NJ Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, director of agriculture.
The workshop was attended by more than 50 entrepreneurs from the food sector who have the potential to export their products.
Earlier, Effandi Hj Salleh, head of Entrepreneur Development Centre said that the results gathered from the workshop would be tabled at the coming International Halal Market Conference in August.
The Entrepreneur Development Centre of NUM will continue to hold workshops to support local SMEs in a bid to develop local halal industry in the Sultanate as a move to diversify the economy from oil and gas. This initiative is in line with Brunei’s efforts to develop a competitive and sustainable economy.
Present as guest of honour was Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar, the permanent secretary at MIPR.
Source: Courtesy of The Brunei Times
http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/200907212789/Local-News/smes-gain-insight-into-halal-market.html