BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN,
July 30 (Bernama) — The Brunei government aims to have up to 100
products under the Brunei Halal Brand by June next year.
Acting director of Agriculture Department of Industry and Primary
Resources Ministry, Normah S.H. Jamil, said currently two products were
marketed under the brand — prawn crackers and orange fresh drink.
“Initially, the Brunei Halal Brand mark will appear on food and
beverages products. In future, the range will be expanded to include
health, beauty and pharmaceutical products,” she told reporters on the
sidelines of the Fourth International Halal Products Expo 2009 (IHP
2009) here Thursday.
She said the government has set up a company, Ghanim International
Food Cooperation Sdn Bhd, to promote and market the halal products
under the brand.
Brunei Halal Brand is a project initiated in late 2004 by the
ministry with the cooperation of Brunei Islamic Religious Council,
Religious Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry.
Normah said any product that carried the brand would have
undergone rigorous inspections and tests to ensure it complied with the
country’s halal standards.
She said through the Brunei Halal Brand, businesses, especially
small and medium enterprises, would be able to penetrate the world
market.
She said the Brunei Halal Brand initiative was also part of the country’s effort to diversify its economy.
Earlier, the IHP 2009 was opened by the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
The four-day expo is co-organised by Brunei Industry and Primary
Resources Ministry, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Religious
Affairs.
A total of 135 companies would showcase their products and services.
— BERNAMA
