HDC eyes Alibaba partnership

PETALING JAYA: Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC), which targeted RM40 billion in halal exports this year, is planning to expand the country’s halal industry market through a partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
“As we all know, Malaysia is a leader in the halal industry. Alibaba can see this as a good advantage ... for working with the halal industry leader,” HDC CEO Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin told reporters during a media briefing at the Global Halal Support Centre yesterday.
He said this on the back of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s announcement in November last year, that the world’s biggest e-commerce platform founder Jack Ma agreed to act as an adviser to the government’s digital economy aspirations.The government aims to double the country’s e-commerce growth to 20.8% by 2020 from the current 10.8%.

Jamil noted that Ma is expected to come to Malaysia to attend the launch of the country’s “E-free” trade zone in March.
“Hopefully we can also include halal agenda in collaboration of the Malaysian government with Alibaba,” he added.
Last year, Jamil said export of halal products contributed 5.04% or RM39.3 billion to the country’s total estimated export of RM779.8 billion, and expects it to reach RM40 billion this year, driven by the agency’s various initiatives.
Jamil said this year HDC will be focusing on the implementation of Halal Malaysia Programme, a three-year plan that aims to enhance the industry’s economic contribution and emerge as the global reference centre for the industry.
He said the programme will focus on six areas comprising halal policy and legislation, international footprint, halal enterprise development, bumiputra development, human capital development, as well as brand and promotions.
“By 2020, we target the halal industry to contribute 8.7% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), from 7.5% currently.” he said.
On outlook, Jamil said he expects the halal industry to remain resilient, on the back of the strong population of 1.8 billion Muslims across the world, as well as the strong demand of halal products.
“In terms of economic development, Malaysia registered RM13.2 billion in investments in its halal parks that resulted in RM205.1 billion (estimated) in exports since 2011 to September 2016 contributed by 1,401 exporters. It is forecast that by 2020, Malaysia’s annual halal exports would exceed RM50 billion.”
Established in 2006, HDC coordinates the overall development of the halal industry in Malaysia. It is an agency under the International Trade and Industry Ministry.