PENANG, Nov 7 (Bernama) — Two local companies who produce halal
medical products will become the first companies to start operations at
the Penang Halal Industrial Park next year.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that Halagel (M) Sdn Bhd, producer of
halal gelatine for pharmacies, and GranuLab (M) Sdn Bhd, a producer of
synthetic bone graft material, had agreed to build their factories in
the park which is located in Bukit Minyak, Seberang Perai.
He said Halagel and GanuLab were in the midst of getting ready to
start their operations in the park which is located next to the Science
Park there. Both the companies expect to start work on their respective
factories in two or three months time.
Lim said this at a press conference held in his office here today.
He said Halagel will invest more than RM130 million while GranuLab will invest RM100 million in the Halal Industrial Park.
“This is among the efforts taken by the state government to build
up a successful international halal hub in Penang and the first phase
of the park will cover an area of 52.4 hectares,” he said.
Lim said Granulab will be also directly involved in the setting up
of an incubator centre to encourage the development of businesses and
technology expansion in the park and this is expected to attract
investments from a variety of multinational companies.
He said the incubator centre which will occupy a 0.8 hectare piece
of land, is expected to help 20 other companies to start their
operations in the park.
“What is important is that both Halagel and GranuLab are able to
generate job opportunities for 500 people and GranuLab will give
attention to knowledge-based workers,” he said.
He said the chairman of the State Committee for Domestic Trade and
Consumer Affairs, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim was also keen on attracting
investments from the Middle East to the park. Abdul Malik will be
attending the World Halal Exhibition in Abu Dhabi next week, he added.
Lim today also announced the set-up of two advisory panels to
cover the industrial and services sector towards economic development
in the future.
He said several experts with experience from the industrial and
services sector will be members of the panel and they will guide in the
efforts taken to develop the two sectors.
The panel for the industrial sector will focus on the areas of
electronics, information communication technologies (ICT),
biotechnology, medical devices and all supportive industries in the
manufacturing sector.
As for the services sector advisory panel, it will focus on the
areas of real estate, tourism, logistics, wholesale facilities, retail,
health care and education.
Members of the industrial panel will include the Chairman and
President of Mini Circuits Technologies Malaysia, Datuk Seri Kelvin
Kiew Kwong Sen, President of the Malaysia Manufacturers Association
(Northern Branch) Datuk O.K.Lee, General Manager of the Penang
Development Corporation (PDC), Datuk Rosli Jaafar, Chief Executive
Officer of Vigilenz Medical Devices Sdn Bhd, S.Choudhury, Advisor of
the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia Penang Branch (DPMMPP), Datuk
Faudzi Naim Noh and the Chief Executive Officer of Penang Skills
Development Centre (PSDC), Datuk Boonler Somchit.
The services advisory panel meanwhile will have the membership of
Chairman of the Architect Association of Malaysia (northern branch),
Nik Rahiman Taib, Chairman of the Institute of Engineering (northern
branch), Lim Kok Khong, Chairman of the Penang Health Association,
Datuk Dr Chan Kok Ewe, President of the Malaysia International Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff, and the
Chairman of the Association of Penang Hotel Operators, Marco
G.Battistotti while Rosli will represent PDC.
Lim said among the duties of the panel would be to provide
advisory services, input and guidance on technology, business, market
trends, as well as opportunities and best practices in the respective
sectors. It will also inform the state government on the global
developments, scenario and the future direction of the respective
sectors and also participate in programmes carried out by the state
government.
He said investPenang, which will provide the secretariat needs, will also be a member of both the panels.
