Supply Of Halal Products For Global Market Still Low: Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- There is immense potential for Malaysian small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME) to tap the market for halal products as current supply of such products only support 20 per cent of global demand. Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, said according to recent survey conducted by Halal Industry Development Corp Sdn Bhd (HDC), halal products suppliers were still small and not enough to support consumer demand. He was speaking at the "SME Mentoring" Programme Awards Ceremony here Friday. He said the global halal market, with an estimated value of more than US$2.3 trillion a year, could contribute positively to the country's economy. Mustapa said the business mentoring programme seminar, organised by HDC, SME Corp Malaysia and Nestle (M) Bhd, could help SMEs expand the halal product market through increasing productivity, quality and marketing. This programme, he said, has attracted 350 participants and 243 companies nationwide since it was introduced in 2009. -- BERNAMA