Brunei Halal Brand In The Works
Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is formulating policies to promote the production and sale of halal food products for both domestic and international markets.

In collaboration with the Ministries of Religious Affairs and Health, (lie ministry is now preparing a Brunei Premium Halal Brand labelling project.

It's aini, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Ahmad bin Haji Jumat said at a roadshow here yesterday, was to promote Brunei-certified halal products for domestic sale and export.

The Minister told business leaders participating in the meeting that the private sector should get involved in the project by, among others, giving input to the government as well as producing, marketing and promot ing halal food products which are internationally recognised as safe, fresh and of quality.

The private sector's participation would help relevant authorities, particularly his ministry, in reviewing policies and assisting local entrepreneurs in the development of the potentially lucrative halal food industry, he said at the roadshow themed Brunei Premium Halal Brand: Potential and Opportunities'.

The minister said at the initial stage, Brunei would cooperate with Australia in issuing halal certificates on Australian-made products that were to be exported to Muslim countries.

"Currently, a significant proportion of Australian products are already marketed to various Muslim countries, including those in the Middle East," he said.

At the same time, the ministry will also encourage local, producers to improve the quality of their products so that they too can receive the halal certification and enter the world market.

"We want to see better achievements made by local companies in the halal industry," said the minister. The chairman of the roadshow, Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar, who is also the ministry permanent secretary, said to facilitate local companies, the government would allocate an industrial site in Tungku, Gadong, for the processing of products with the Brunei Premium Halal brand.

The 263-hectare site will provide premises for production, research and other related activities. Eventually, the project is expected to help diversify the country's economy, raise the quality of local products and provide employment opportunities for local youths.

Because the provision of halal food products for Muslims in the country and abroad is regarded as a societal obligation (fardhu kifayah), the government needs to ensure the availability of such products for the country's mostly Muslim population.

During a question and answer session at the roadshow, noted businessman Haji Awang Ahmad Morshidi also related his experiences- in setting up and managing a business in Brunei.

The entrepreneur said one of the main challenges he faced was in the field of financing and expertise.

He urged for better government support in this field so as to bolster new business opportunities for Bruneian entrepreneurs. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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