Taiwan aims to make Malaysia testing ground for its halal products

Taiwan intends to make Malaysia its testing ground for its halal products due to the high demand worldwide, said Director of Taiwan Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Jessie Tseng.

She said the Taiwanese government has encouraged more companies to get the halal certificates for their food products.

"This year, we brought in 23 companies to participate in Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2015), one of the largest number of participants," she told reporters after the launch of the Jimrosa Taiwan Food Shops in Mid Valley Megamall here on Thursday.

Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, Moses Cheng Shyang-Yun, said Malaysia was Taiwan's eighth largest trading partner.

"Last year, two-way trade amounted to US$17.4 billion," he said.

Cheng said for food trading the challenge was to get the halal certification.

"The Malaysian market is a good testing ground for Taiwanese food because it is also a bridge to the 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide. If we can succeed here, we can also be a significant halal food exporter to Muslims worldwide," he said.

Director of Jimrosa (M) Sdn Bhd, Willy Seah, said, the company had 300 kinds of popular Taiwanese food and 90 per cent of them were halal since there were categorised as vegetarian and organic foods.

"Among the 90 per cent halal items, not all of them are certified halal but we are in process of getting the halal certificates for all of them," he said.