KUANTAN: Ensuring comprehensive infrastructure and facilities to boost the halal sector in Pahang and Perak are among the elements under the Malaysia-China Halal Trade Corridor, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
As such, Zahid said, the federal government will assist Pahang and other states to allow the investors to set up their factories within a dedicated area catering to the needs of the halal industry.
He said the Pahang government had allocated 101ha of land for China investors at the Gebeng Halal Hub here.
"Following positive feedback from China, the state government decided to expand up to 202ha.
"The Pahang government is providing a site measuring 303ha(750 acres) for the Chinese halal industry.
"I have met with the potential investors and even the Menteri Besar (Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail) has met them...they will be meeting me again by the end of this year and I will bring them to see the location here," he told reporters after opening the Pahang-leg of the Halal on Track (HoT) programme at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee hall here today.
Also present at the programme was Wan Rosdy and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
Zahid added that the halal hub will consist of factories and industrial parks.
"The China investors are interested with Gebeng here, Lekir in Perak and Johor due to the presence of infrastructure facilities such airports and ports," he said.
HoT is a platform to help streamline Malaysian halal certification for entrepreneurs from various certification stakeholders under one roof.
Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH), stated during his working visit to China last month that Malaysia has the potential to attract new investments in the halal industry from China across various sectors, including herbal medicine, food and beverages, vaccines, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.