Penang allocates RM150m for halal park

The Penang state government has allocated RM150 million to set up the Penang Halal Park in Bukit Minyak in Seberang Prai, part of efforts to transform the state into an international halal hub.

State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim said the state government has signed six memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with various parties to develop halal clusters, namely manufacturing, logistics, agro-based industry, finance and hospitality.

He said under the agreements with Asian Finance Bank from Qatar and Unicorn International Islamic Bank of Bahrain, Penang, via the Penang International Halal Hub (PIHH), will serve as a virtual centre to link halal firms and investors to both banks as the reference institutions for advisory and consultancy on syariah-compliant financing.

"Al-Jawhara Group of hotels from Dubai had also agreed to establish a link through PIHH, to the Penang hotel industries, to develop a syariah-compliant hotel industry," Abdul Malik said at a media briefing held in conjunction with the fourth World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

At the same event, Halagel (M) Sdn Bhd signed an MOU with Penang Development Corp to buy a large parcel of land at the Penang Halal Park to build Southeast Asia's first halal gelatin plant.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, also present, said investors will benefit from the comprehensive support linking Penang to the supply chain, from getting raw materials to final manufacturing and distribution to consumers worldwide.

By Business Times (by Azlan Abu Bakar)