GEORGE TOWN – Halal food producers in Penang can help alleviate the disruptions to global food supply chains by expanding their production through digitalisation and by doubling down on marketing outreach.
State Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said that the halal food production industry was just starting off, so it has the capacity to expand to meet the demands of global consumers, especially for fresh and hygienic quality produce.
“Resources of old (raw produce) can be combined with new (tech), so that yields can also be increased to meet the growing demand.”
Halim said this could help the country to upgrade its food security in view of the acute shortage of goods caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, coupled with disruptions in commodities such as crude oil.
The Batu Maung assemblyman, who is also the Penang Halal International (PHI) Expo organising chairperson, said that the time is ripe for halal food producers to help the world cope with the disruptions to supply chains, which has led to widespread inflation.
The three-day expo, which begins today at the Setia Spice Convention Centre, has received an “overwhelming” response where over 800 exhibitors gathered after a two-year hiatus brought on by Covid-19, he said.
PHI chief executive officer Fazil Irwan Som said this year’s expo marked the debut of technology exhibitors such as multi-platform app operator Grab and robotics makers.
Earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the event, said that Penang has the right fundamentals to tap into the regional halal market, which is valued to be in the billions.
Penang is the first state in the country to surpass the national growth rate with a gross domestic product (GDP) expansion of 6.8%, he said.
The state’s GDP has now reached RM99 billion despite registering negative 2.1% growth in 2020 due to the pandemic, Chow said.
“But we cannot be complacent. We have to adopt greater efficiency in business and continue striving for excellence, especially for the halal industry, whose potential is immense.”
Chow urged the halal industry players to find new synergy and innovation opportunities to boost their market presence. – The Vibes, July 2, 2022
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