Malaysia: Halal park set to provide great opportunities for players

By Zarina Zakariah, New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: The halal park at the Johor Biotech Park promises immense opportunities for the global halal industry.
Located in eastern Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, the 141ha Johor Biotech Park boasts of a gross development value of RM1.5 billion over the next five to seven years and is designated to boost small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand) group chief executive officer Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng said Johor Biotech Park would umland-thumb_logobe the first integrated halal park with international standards that could attract SMEs and local and foreign investors.
The company has submitted its application to the Halal Industry Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (HIDC) for the park to become a Halmas-designated halal park.
“UMLand is committed to transform the area to generate economic growth for the state and region,” said Chia.
Halmas is an accreditation given to halal park operators that have complied with the requirements stipulated under the HDC-designated halal park development.
“With the halal status, industry players and logistics operators will be able to enjoy incentives facilitated by HDC,” said HDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin.
State entity Johor Biotechnology and Biodiversity Corp (J-Biotech) chief executive officer Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid said the park signalled the start of the development of a bio-economy for the country. “We have started the ball rolling with about 32 entities signing up to occupy about 200ha in Johor Biotech Park.
“So far, the first phase of the project has commenced about 30 per cent.
“We are working together with UMLand. There will be numerous incentives to attract investors, and industrial properties for lease and sale,” he said on the sidelines of the World Islamic Economic Forum, here, yesterday.
The factories are priced from RM1 million to RM5 million. In August, UM Land and J-Biotech inked a joint venture to create the Johor Biotech Park, which is located near the Pasir Gudang Port.

The project will comprise a regional marketing and clearing house, integrated packaging, warehousing and logistics, one-stop centre, scientific and halal laboratory as well as incubator facilities. The park has vast potential to transform the economic landscape of the southern corridor.