PETALING JAYA, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) together with the Malaysia External Trade and Development Corporation (MATRADE), both agencies under the Malaysian Ministry of Trade and Industries (MITI), will be spearheading a Malaysian multi-agency Halal mission, the   Halal Cluster Week, under the umbrella of Malaysia Pavilion at the upcoming World Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 - 20 November 2021.

During the Halal Cluster Week, HDC and MATRADE will be organizing Halal Malaysia Showcase featuring the Export Acceleration Mission on Digital Halal Ecosystem (EAM) to highlight Malaysia's capability in the halal industry and, at the same time, to position the country as an international hub for halal products and services.

“The halal industry is certainly one of Malaysia’s key strengths and being one of the pioneers within the global halal industry, we will certainly highlight Malaysia’s halal offerings to help us achieve the desired outcome,” said Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of HDC.

"As the national trade promotion agency of Malaysia, participation in World Expo 2020 will reinforce MATRADE's commitment to champion the internationalisation agenda of Malaysia's Halal products and services. MATRADE will continue its collaboration efforts with various ministries and agencies towards such agenda under the umbrella of Export Coordination Committee or JK-X in short," said Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE.

In preparation for the mission and to achieve the optimum outcome, business meetings, pitching sessions, seminars and visits to buying houses will be organised by MATRADE, who is the strategic partner to MGTC which will also be assisting in the facilitation of business meetings for 26 weeks (6 months) of the World Expo 2020.

With the theme “Energising Sustainability”, the Malaysia Pavilion in Dubai will be the main meeting point for Malaysian companies for the weekly business-focused thematic programs, which will be led by the 22 ministries, 38 agencies, and five state governments, throughout 26 weeks of the Expo.

Malaysia’s overall participation in World Expo 2020 will be led by The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) as the implementing agency. Malaysia will be among 192 countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai, which is slated to be held from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

HDC signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with MGTC in August 2020, to facilitate the overall activities during the Halal Cluster Week.

“We aim to leverage on this world event and further solidify our leadership position in halal industry. With the global economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19, as well as the travel restriction due to the border closures, HDC will certainly use this immense trust and opportunity to promote our local industries and bring the best of our Malaysian products to the global arena and help boost Malaysia’s overall trade and economy,” added Hairol.

Bearing the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, this mega event will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Despite the hurdle which leads to the postponement of the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UAE is officially opening their doors to the world as a platform for the global community to interact and deliberate on new ideas.

Despite being postponed, organisers have decided to maintain World Expo 2020 as the event title for marketing and branding purposes.

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 is also known as the central coordinator that promotes participation and facilitates the 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.

ABOUT MALAYSIA EXTERNAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MATRADE)

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on March 1, 1993, as the external trade promotion arm of Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). It has 46 overseas networks and 5 of Malaysia’s regional offices that support its HQ, located at Menara MATRADE, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuala Lumpur.  Its functions are:
· To promote, assist and develop Malaysia's external trade with particular emphasis on the export of manufactured and semi-manufactured products and services;
· To formulate and implement export marketing strategies and trade promotion activities to promote Malaysia's export;
· To undertake commercial intelligence and market research and create a comprehensive database of information for the improvement and development of Malaysia's trade;
· To organise training programmes to improve the international marketing skills of Malaysian exporters;
· To enhance and protect Malaysia's international trade investment abroad; and
· To promote, facilitate and assist in the services areas related to trade. 
· For more information, please visit MATRADE at - www.matrade.gov.my

NEWS RELEASE prepared and issued by Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
 
Source: Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
HDC PR & Media
Name: Norsida Ahmad
Tel: +6012 3249703
Email: norsida.ahmad@hdcglobal.com

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
Corporate Communications Unit
Name: Mohamad Haris Abdul Latiff
Email: mharis@matrade.gov.my
Tel: 03-6207 7077
Email: communication@matrade.gov.my  

--BERNAMA