50 Malaysian companies to tap China's halal market

The Secretariat for the Advancement of Malaysian Entrepreneurs (SAME) will lead a delegation of 50 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to China in May to explore the halal market among the country's 26 million Muslims.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the 10-day trade mission to Xian, Inner Mongolia and Qing Hai was being mounted after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March.

SAME, Halal Development Corporation and Bank of China signed an MoU to develop the halal trade with China.

"Malaysia is in a good position to bank on its status as a pioneer in the development of halal standards worldwide," he said at a press conference on SAME's Halal Global Programme here Wednesday.

He said the MoU would capitalise on the long-standing trade ties between China and Malaysia and tap into the US$2.3 trillion global halal industry.

The 50 companies participating in the trade mission are mostly in the food and beverage sector.