By Zazali Musa, The Star
JOHOR BARU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) are currently in discussion to develop a dedicated halal industrial park in Iskandar Malaysia.
UTM deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim said the university would be the facilitator in the development of the project.
“Our involvement in the project is mostly on the halal accreditation-related technologies and standardisation of halal certification,” he said.
Among the university’s scope of contribution to the project is its expertise in research and development activities on halal food products. He told reporters this at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between UTM and Saudi Arabiabased Taiba Care, represented by its business development manager Maher Assad.
Taiba Care, a provider of healthcare and education business will utilise UTM’s expertise to further develop and implement the halal related technologies in Madina for the benefit of Saudis and Muslim consumers worldwide.
Maher said Malaysia was chosen by the company for the halalstandardisation as it was the first country in the world to implement such a system.
He said although the food and pharmaceutical products sold in Saudi Arabia including those imported from other countries were halal, there was no standardised halal logo on the packaging.
The company hoped to get the halal recognition from the World Halal Council within one year and make Madina as the centre of halalcertification in the world.
It is learnt that plans are already in the pipeline to develop a dedicatedhalal industrial park in Iskandar focusing on the halal food and agro-processing related activities.
It is learnt that Irda had commissioned Marditech CorpSdn Bhd, the commercial arm of the Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute, to undertake the study of the halal hub.