Malaysia: ECERDC Receives Courtesy Call From China Ningxia Delegation

ecer_all4KUANTAN, Jan 15 (Bernama) — The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) today received a courtesy call from a Chinese trade and investment delegation from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

ECERDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datuk Jebasingam Issace John said the visit was the outcome of a memorandum of understanding signed between ECERDC and Ningxia Light and Textile Industrial Bureau (NLTB) on January 4 last year to explore collaboration opportunities in halal industries especially in agriculture, pharmaceutical and textile sectors.

“They are here to explore opportunities to invest in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) while promoting their products in Malaysia.

“At the same time, ECER can play a more prominent role in the development of the halal industry not only in Malaysia, but also in Ningxia,” he said to reporters after a short meeting with the delegates here today.

Also present was Director General of Ningxia Economic and Technological Coorperation Office, Wang Jing, who led the delegation.

In order to be one of the players in the halal industry, ECERDC is now rapidly commercialising its agricultural sector to ensure a stable supply of raw materials to support the manufacturing of halal products, Jebasingam said.

“Moreover, the infrastructure-ready Gambang Halal Park carries the internationally-recognised Halmas accreditation, a mark of excellence awarded by Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation (HDC) to industrial parks that manufacture halal products according to certified standards of quality, integrity and safety,” he added.

Meanwhile, Wang said besides exploring opportunities in halal industries, the delegation also aimed to seek possible collaboration with the local enterprises that manufacture halal products.

“The collaboration will also boost the bilateral trade between Malaysia and China and strengthen the bilateral relationship between two countries, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year,” he added.

As of June 2013, Malaysia exported RM15.7 billion worth of halal products, making the country the biggest halal products exporter among the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

As for China, its halal food industry is rapidly developing in a bid to cater to the needs of some 20 million Muslims in the country including in Ningxia province.

— BERNAMA