KANGAR, Feb 13 – More halal products from Perlis, particularly foodstuffs, have the potential to penetrate the world market if local manufacturers and entrepreneurs “think big” to expand their business, says a
state executive councillor.
Datuk Seri Diraja Syed Razlan Putra Jamalullail said eventhough Perlis was a small state, that was not a stumbling block for products from the state to carve a niche in the international stage if manufacturers and entrepreneurs think global and not confine their business only to the small-scale domestic market.
“This can be realised with a viable business networking between domestic and foreign entrepreneurs,” said Syed Razlan, who is also State Investment and Industrial Committee chairman, when opening a seminar themed “Halal Products For Brunei Darussalam” hosted by the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce.
Syed Razlan said many Made-in-Perlis products such as foodstuffs and local fruits are being sold in Brunei Darussalam, China and Japan.
“Made-in-Malaysia halal products, including that produced in Perlis, have no problems to be marketed in the world market as the global community needed halal products,” said Syed Razlan, who is also the chamber’s patron.
As such, he urged, halal products’ manufacturers and entrepreneurs to give importance to quality and branding for their products to find a niche in the global market.
On the seminar, Syed Razlan said it was hosted for local manufacturers and entrepreneurs to meet Brunei Darussalam’s leading halal products’ importer and distributor — Syarikat Perniagaan Malar Setia (SPMS).
Three Perlis-based companies signed memorandums of understanding with SPMS. They are soft drinks manufacturer Frutania Industri Sdn Bhd, Muneera Marketing Sdn Bhd, a bakery, and Al-Tasneem Sdn Bhd, a company that produces bird nests.
Meanwhile, SPMS Managing Director Abdul Rahman Metasim said 80 per cent of the 400,000 Bruneians were Muslims and they needed halal products. He hoped the three companies that signed the MoU would introduce their products in the Brunei market soon. Operational since 1987, the SPMS, among the major importers and product distributors in Brunei Darussalam, believes Made-in-Perlis halal products will receive good response from Bruneians.
