AMC leads Halal incursion into China
By Abu Bakar Ahmad published Yesterday
Original Article Source:
The Halal Journal Nov/Dec 09Filed Under: Certification >> Training
China’s emergence as an economic superpower has been stupendous. It is the second largest economy after the US with a GDP of USD7.8 trillion (2008) based on purchasing power parity (PPP) and third in the world next to the US and Japan with a nominal GDP of USD4.4 trillion when measured in exchange rate terms. Concomitant with this development is the enhanced prospect for the introduction, promotion, and development of Halal business opportunities in the country – opportunities that China would ill afford to miss given the whopping annual estimated global value of trade in Halal products worth some USD1.2 trillion.
Asia Management & Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. (AMC), a Malaysian private limited company, is one company that looks to China as a haven to push the Halal initiative. According to CEO Jerry Yap, the company is gearing up to co-organise the first China (Yiwu) Halal Food and Muslim Products Expo with Xi’an Muslim Business Chamber of Commerce and China Tongyuan Co., Ltd, on 18 to 20 November 2009.
The choice of Yiwu as the place for this auspicious occasion is most apt. Located in the middle of Zhejiang province on the eastern part of the Jin Qu basin, Yiwu boasts an internationally reputable commodity market, the highest concentration of local and foreign Muslim businessmen in the country, flourishing 300 odd Islamic restaurants, Islamic meat and food supply points, processing points and Islamic supermarkets as well as ample Arabic translators to facilitate business dealings. It is thus, the most ideal site to jump-start economic cooperation among Muslim businesses and to promote Islamic food and supplies to the whole of the Middle East and the rest of the Muslim world.
The three-day expo, approved by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, will feature various categories of Islamic food products ranging from meat, fresh and frozen products, dried fruits, healthcare food, high and low temperature cooked food, dairy and bean products, edible oils, instant and canned food, and teas and herbs, to various food processing and packaging machineries. In addition to food-related products and implements, supplies such as ethnic crafts, silk, industrial arts, costumes, caps, shoes, perfumes, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, weather and wool products, carpets and furniture, and other consumables will also be highlighted.
AMC hopes that the pioneering effort will not only achieve its objective of developing and promoting global trade between Muslim countries, particularly in regards to Halal products and services, but also attract foreign businesses to Malaysia; where a well-developed physical and institutional infrastructure awaits them, one that is capable of supporting initiatives and programmes relating to the Halal industry.
Apart from the expo endeavour, AMC provides Halal training and consultancy to companies in mainland China and Taiwan – having received exclusive rights from the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the governing body overseeing the Halal industry in Malaysia and Malaysian companies participating in the global Halal market. Adapted from HDC’s own training elements and focused on meeting the guidelines of the Malaysian instituted Halal standard (MS1500:2004), the three-module training programme offers a comprehensive treatment of every aspect relating to Halal and the Halal industry. This training and the pre-audit consultation are prerequisite steps in the total accreditation process that companies have to undergo should they wish to be certified as Halal entities by JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), the agency entrusted by the Malaysian government with ultimate certification authority.
The Malaysian certification and the corollary approval to use the JAKIM Halal Logo confer the companies with immediate recognition that their products are safe for consumption not only in Malaysia but all over the Islamic world. This is due in great measure to the government’s full backing of the Halal certification process unlike other countries where this is either done at the individual provincial level or by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). AMC’s effort in China is an excellent example of Malaysia’s commitment to be a key player in the global Halal business.
資料來源
http://www.halaljournal.com/article/4000/amc-leads-halal-incursion-into-china
