KUALA TERENGGANU, April 6 (Bernama) -- Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Halal Innovation Centre in Terengganu through academic cooperation in terms of training and research.
HDC chief executive officer Hairol Ariffein Sahari said the MoU was in line with HDC's vision to make halal the first choice in venturing into businesses as well as providing more skilled manpower in the halal industry for the local and international markets.
"This collaboration signifies the importance of the halal industry in the new economic era as the global halal industry is very large with demand reaching USD$3 trillion (RM12.42 trillion) a year.
"Various business opportunities and prospects in study opportunities, as well as adding value to talent development initiatives and quality employment are available in this field. UMT is the first higher education institution in Terengganu to collaborate with HDC in enhancing halal research, development and subsequently creating a Halal Innovation Centre in Terengganu,” he said in a statement today.
The MoU was signed by Hairol Ariffein on behalf of HDC while UMT was represented by its vice chancellor Prof Dato' Dr. Nor Aieni binti Haji Mokhtar, witnessed by state Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Micro Industry and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Nurkhuzaini Ab Rahman at the opening of the Malaysia Halal Tour Programme organised by HDC here today.
The Jelajah Halal Malaysia programme in Terengganu also involves HDC's strategic partners, namely the Terengganu Government, Bank Islam Malaysia, Terengganu Development Foundation and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).
Commenting further, Hairol Ariffein said the collaboration with Bank Islam also fulfilled the 'Target Relief and Recovery Facility' (TRRF) initiative under Bank Negara to provide financial assistance to halal Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Through TRRF, we will help increase the number of SMEs involved in halal business through Bank Islam financing products," he said.
Bank Islam’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Muazzam Mohamed, said, “Bank Islam is delighted to partner with HDC in providing additional values for customers. Our products and services are not limited to individual customers or simple cash management services but also caters to SMEs with more customised business needs, especially considering the current challenging business climate. As a Bank that advances prosperity for all, we believe that this collaboration will provide the support needed to sustain businesses, especially SMEs, subsequently growing the Nation’s Halal industry to a greater height.”
Meanwhile, Nor Aieni said the collaboration with HDC would further strengthen the halal industry ecosystem and strengthen the university's commitment to provide added value to students in ensuring they are equipped with the skills to succeed in the local and global halal industry and open up career opportunities for them.
"HDC's credibility in the field of halal industry training development is undeniable. Apart from being recognised as the national industry (Halal) leading entity by the Ministry of Human Resources, HDC is also recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as the agency that develops the standards of Halal studies for higher education institutions in Malaysia," she said.
HDC has produced more than 60,000 halal skilled workers since 2007. This year, HDC's focus is on job placements for trained people in more than 8,000 halal companies from within and outside the country who have the potential to become future employers.
Apart from providing professional training on halal, HDC also offers its expertise in facilitating industry players to make their way into the halal market through industry expert consultation and advice, business matching services and halal integrated platform services.
With rapid technological advances and the increase in the number of digital platforms in recent years and as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) are encouraged to fully digitalise their businesses and maximise the potential that e-commerce platforms provide as well as use the best efforts at creative digital innovation.
HDC through Halal Integrated Platform (HIP) will connect members to key stakeholders under a single platform, potentially to link more than 200,000 local Halal industry players in order to grow their business capability and capacity.
ABOUT HALAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BERHAD (HDC)Halal Development Corporation (HDC) spearheads the development of Malaysia’s integrated and comprehensive halal ecosystem and infrastructure to position Malaysia as the most competitive country leading the global halal industry.
Established on 18 September 2006, HDC as it is also known, is the central coordinator that promotes participation and facilitates growth of industry players in the development of Malaysia’s Halal ecosystem. An agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI); it is the world’s first Government-backed halal industry development corporation. For more information, please visit HDC at -
www.hdcglobal.com.
NEWS RELEASE prepared and issued by Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC).
SOURCE: Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC)FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:HDC PR & Media
Name: Norashekin Yusof
Tel: +6012 2095348
Email: norashekin.yusof@hdcglobal.com
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