Seeking to become the world’s hub for halal products, Malaysia is going high-tech to develop the key sector, signing agreements with information technology giants, banks and academia, while urging Muslim countries to increase their investments in the sector. Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the opening of the annual World Halal Forum (WHF). Abdullah witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding between the nascent Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and Microsoft Corporation, CIMB Islamic Bank, Chulalongkorn University of Thailand and Al-Islami Foods of Dubai. Cooperation with Microsoft focuses on developing an information communication technology system for the halal industry comprising a halal product exchange centre, a halal research knowledge centre and remote halal certification.
The CIMB Islamic Bank will provide financial assistance for halal projects with priority given to small- and medium-scale enterprises. The Chulalongkorn University, the Institute for Halal Food Standard of Thailand and HDC will be working together on the development of capacity building programmes, research and development activities as well as harmonisation of halal standards.