Malaysia's HDC, AJ Pharma In Halal Vaccines Joint Venture

By Azizul Ahmad KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and AJ Pharma Holdings Bhd have signed a strategic collaboration agreement in halal healthcare initiatives, starting with vaccines needed for the haj pilgrimage and umrah. HDC Chief Executive Officer Jamil Bidin said the strategic collaboration marked a major milestone in further developing the halal industry in Malaysia. "The collaboration with AJ Pharma will promote cooperation, especially in accelerating technology transfer of knowledge and expertise in vaccines that are halal compliant. "The partnership will benefit Malaysia in terms of creating more vaccines to ensure self-reliance for the country and offer more job opportunities for Malaysians," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Malaysia-Saudi Arabia Business Forum here Tuesday. AJ Pharma Holdings Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dr. Tabassum Khan said the joint effort was aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of the Muslim ummah globally and the future development of the local halal industry. "We will start with vaccines needed for the haj and umrah and it should available in the market by 2019," he said. Saudi Arabia has made the meningococcal vaccination with the quadrivalent vaccine a mandatory requirement for Muslim pilgrims performing the haj in the Holy Land from over 140 countries. AJ Pharma Holding was established by the Aljomaih Group of Saudi Arabia as a dedicated healthcare investment company based in Malaysia. "One of Saudi Arabia's top 10 conglomerates, the Aljomaih Group has extensive experience in various industries worldwide and we at AJ Pharma can assist Malaysian healthcare players who wish to export, especially to the Middle East, Europe and Africa," said Tabassum. The HDC-AJ Pharma memorandum of understanding (MoU) on healthcare was one of the seven MoUs signed today by Malaysian and Saudi Arabian companies with an estimated total value of US$2.19 billion (RM9.74 billion). The other MOUs were in the transportation, aerospace, information technology, manufacturing, photovoltaic power plants, and haj services. Present were International Trade and Industry minister, Mustapa Mohamed, Saudi Arabia Governor of Small and Medium Enterprise Authority Dr Ghassan Ahmed Al-Sulaiman, Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers Dr Hamdan Abdullah Alssomaireen, and National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia President Ter Leong Lap. --BERNAMA