JOHOR BARU: Special incentives, including tax exemptions, are expected to be offered to halal entrepreneurs operating at the Iskandar Halal Park.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the exemptions will considered and discussed in a cabinet meeting in October this year.
"I will personally 'whisper' the requests of Johor Menteri Besar (Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi) in the ears of prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim)," he told reporters after the Halal on Track (HoT) programme launch held at the Persada International Convention Centre, here, today.
Earlier, Onn Hafiz in his speech said the incentives are expected to be finalised by the prime minister in September this year.
He said hoped that the tax exemption application will be approved to encourage more industries to invest and operate their business in the halal park, located in the Johor-Singapore Special Finance Zone (SFZ) and the Special Economy Zone (SEZ).
Onn Hafiz also asked for infrastructures and roads in both zones to be given priority by the federal government and improved.
He said further incentives under Halmas-designated halal parks offered to halal industry players and logistics operators will attract more investors.
Halmas is an accreditation given to halal park operators that have complied with the requirements stipulated under the Halal Development Corporation (HDC).
Meanwhile, Zahid, who is also Malaysian Halal Council chairman, said Malaysia aims to lead the global halal market through the Halal Industry Development Council.
The global halal market, he said, was expected to reach US$5 trillion by 2030.
Zahid said Anwar had emphasised the need for innovation in the halal industry, with a focus on sustainability.
The "Greening Halal Business" initiative, in partnership with international organisations, aims to help Malaysian halal businesses adopt greener practices.
Zahid called for stakeholders, including the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), HDC, state Islamic councils, and industry players, to work together to keep the country at the forefront of the global halal market.