Collaborate to develop halal parks, states told

STATE governments are encouraged to share knowledge, experience and expertise among themselves to develop halal parks in their respective states.

There are eight halal parks in the country that are doing well, having collectively attracted RM4.8 billion in investment so far. They include Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca.

In facilitating the orderly development of halal parks, Halal Development Corp (HDC), an agency under the Minister of International Trade and Industry (Miti) which is responsible to spearhead the development of the local halal industry, has published a HDC Designated Halal Parks guideline.

To date, a total of 97 companies have either purchased factory sites, started factory construction or are operating at the various halal parks.
"Halal park is a new initiative that has a lot of processes. I won't say the parks that are less developed are failures, they are just relatively new," said Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed at the Third World Halal Research Summit 2010 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"There should be a correlation between state governments to promote halal parks as well as support each other in the supply chain," he said.

Earlier, in his speech, Mustapa said Malaysia has developed the concept of halal parks which are dedicated economic zones with the infrastructure, incentives and support services readily available for potential investors.

"We also have the Global Halal Support Centre (GHSC) under HDC, which was established to be a world leader and global reference centre in halal knowledge and halal related services for both investors and consumers. GHSC hopes to be the one-stop centre for companies and service providers in halal-related sectors," he said.

Themed "Inspiring Innovation Through Halal Research", this year's summit focuses on encouraging innovation within halal research findings worldwide. It brings together the world's halal players to explore and discuss updates on research findings, emerging technologies, trends, issues and challenges within the halal industry.

While other countries are focusing on a certain halal products like halal food, halal meat or poultry, the government aims to develop a halal eco-system in the country.

The halal eco-system constitutes the components for a holistic halal supply chain incorporating production, research and development, banking and finance, logistics, tourism and other support services.

By Business Times

Halal parks draw RM4.8b investments

EIGHT halal parks in the country has attracted a total of RM4.8 billion in investment so far, said Halal Industry Development Corp (HDC).

Chief executive chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said these halal parks are already in operation at various locations throughout the country. Those in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca are doing very well.

"The parks in these areas are almost fully capitalised. We hope the state government will give more land to expand the halal parks," he said in Kuala Lumpur.

The development of these halal parks is in line with the aim to make Malaysia a centre for halal supply chain in the region. HDC helps by promoting investments of halal products and services and other incentives in collaboration with the state government.
Yesterday, HDC awarded the 209.6ha techpark@enstek developed by TH Properties Sdn Bhd, the Halmas certified status, a special status for halal parks having complied with the requirements under the HDC guidelines.

techpark@enstek is the first halal park to receive the certification in conjunction with Halmas certification launched yesterday. The park has so far attracted a total of RM2.5 billion of investments and is in talks for another RM500 million worth of investment from two pharmaceutical companies this year.

Its investors include Coca Cola Bottlers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd , a subsidiary of the world-renowned Coca Cola Company which is building a RM1 billion bottling plant on its 12ha site.

The government has also purchased a 24.8ha site at techpark@enstek to develop 9BIO, a National Institute of Natural Products, Vaccines and Biologicals for vaccine production. This development will spearhead the production of halal vaccines for Malaysia's own consumption as well as for export.

Another government project in the pipeline is the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) proposed halal complex which will undertake the infrastructure in developing a global halal accreditation and reference hub.

Bandar Enstek is a joint venture between TH Properties and Negri Sembilan State Development Corp. The township offers an extensive network of industrial, commercial, residential and institutional properties.

HDC also launched its new corporate logo at the event to mark its fourth year in the industry. On the corporatisation of HDC, Jamil said Ministry of International Trade and Industry will prepare a proposal to the cabinet on the ways forward for the industry.

By Business Times

RM500m FDI for halal parks next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) has targeted to attract RM500 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Halal Parks located across the country by next year, said its vice president of industry development, Nicholas Shariff Collins.

"The HDC is currently in talks with some foreign parties, particularly multinational corporations, who have shown a keen interest in investing in the Halal Parks.

"A few will in fact be setting up shop soon," he told a press conference here today.

According to Collins, two major companies, F&N and Concept Amenities from Australia, have confirmed commencing operations by the year end.

To date, five Halal Parks are already in operation in the country.

They are the Halal Park in the Port Klang Free Zone, the Selangor Halal Hub ( Pulau Indah), Pedas Halal Park, Serkam Halal Food Park and the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.

The Sungai Petani Halal Food Park and Pengkalan Chepa Halal Park are expected to start operations by end of this year.

By Bernama

Halal hub project to help KHSB return to profitability

KUMPULAN Hartanah Selangor Bhd (KHSB) is set to return to the black by end-2009 as it starts to gain from the development of its industrial properties, especially the Selangor Halal Hub (SHH) in Pulau Indah, Klang.

The property arm of the state's investment firm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd also plans to dispose of non-strategic properties to improve its financial standing after suffering a loss of RM35 million in the last financial year ended December 31 2008.

"We have fully sold Phase 1 of SHH comprising 88ha of industrial land within four years, worth a total of RM133 million," said its executive chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar.

He said Phase 1 is expected to bring in direct investments worth more than RM1 billion, creating about 2,000 new jobs.
Abdul Karim said major players that will operate in the area include Ramly Food Industries Sdn Bhd, Felda, Mara and PML Dairies.

"All facilities have been put in place. It's only a matter of time before these companies start construction of their facilities. One company has started construction and is expected to begin operations in two years," he said.

Speaking to reporters after KHSB's annual general meeting in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday, Abdul Karim noted that reclamation works for Phase 2 which involves 97.6ha of industrial land with a gross development value (GDV) of RM234 million have been completed.

"Negotiations with potential foreign and local investors are still ongoing, and we expect to conclude sales worth at least RM70 million this year," he said.

Abdul Karim said construction of the South Klang Valley Expressway is also expected to enhance the accessibility to Pulau Indah and will be a catalyst of growth for the Pulau Indah development.

"We expect to fully sell off Phase 2 within five years," he said.

With a land bank of more than 1,600ha, KHSB, together with Kumpulan Darul Ehsan, are also looking into the possibility of venturing into sand and minerals exploration and exploitation to diversify its cash stream.

"Besides the 1,600ha of land we have now, the state agency is expected to transfer another 2,000ha of land to us to help improve the cash flow of the company in the future," he said, adding that the firm is in the midst of acquiring a strategic land in Petaling Jaya for a proposed mixed development with a GDV of RM600 million.

For financial year ended December 31 2008, the company's revenue dropped 60.08 per cent to RM96.1 million from RM240.8 million previously.

By Business Times (by Azlan Abu Bakar)

KHSB banks on land sale, halal hub

SHAH ALAM: Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd (KHSB) is set to return to the black in the current year ending Dec 31 (FY09) after it disposes of land and reaps profit from its ongoing projects.

“Our focus will be on industrial properties, particularly in the Selangor halal hub project on Pulau Indah, Klang.

“We also plan to dispose of non-strategic land,” executive chairman Datuk Abd Karim Muniar said, without elaborating.

Speaking after a shareholders’ meeting here yesterday, he said the property unit of Selangor’s state investment arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd had already locked in sales of RM133mil for its Selangor halal hub.

“Phase 1 comprising 220 acres has been fully sold, yielding sales of RM133mil.

“The total gross development value of the 244-acre Phase 2 is RM234mil and sales are expected to be completed in three to five years,” Abd Karim said.

Talks were ongoing with both foreign and local parties and KHSB expected to secure sales of RM70mil from the second phase of the Selangor halal hub project by the year-end, he said.

“Phase 1, which is expected to commence business in the next two years, is projected to bring in direct investment of RM1.06bil to Pulau Indah and create at least 2,000 jobs,” he added.

Among the major players that would operate there are Ramly Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Felda Holdings Bhd.

KHSB recorded a net loss of RM38.5mil on revenue of RM93.4mil for FY08 mainly due to provisions and impairment losses.

The company currently has a total land-bank of 4,000 acres, largely in Selangor.

Abd Karim said KHSB was in discussions to acquire a 9.5-acre in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, for a mixed property project with an estimated gross development value of RM600mil.

He said the company was also exploring opportunities in the sand and minerals exploration.

By The Star