Get products halal-certified to gain greater reach, Awg Tengah advises local SMEs

MIRI (July 27): Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) here should apply for halal certification if they want to expand and sell their product in a bigger market.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, in making this call, said by having halal certification, their products could also penetrate the markets overseas.

“We want them (entrepreneurs) to understand the importance of getting halal certification, especially those involved in the food sector, and the manufacturing sector.

“This is important because the halal sector offers bigger market reach” he said in officiating at the opening of the four-day ‘Sarawak Entrepreneur Showcase’, at Bintang Megamall here today.

The event, which kicked off on Thursday, is carried out by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (Mintred), which is overseen by Awang Tengah.

Adding on, the Deputy Premier said last year, the value of the worldwide halal market including food, was US$1.3 trillion, with the figure expected to hit US$4.5 trillion in 2030.

“Imagine of just having a tiny piece of that, not even one per cent, but point-zero zero per cent – even that’s already big.”

On local SMEs, he regarded the sector as among the most crucial in the country’s economic development.

“In Malaysia, the SMEs represent 97 per cent of all businesses; the 97 per cent also include the 84,000 SMEs in Sarawak.

“They are the backbone of the national economy. They contribute a lot to the GDP and create jobs for the local communities,” he said.

On the entrepreneur showcase, Tengah said it was one of the ways for the ministry to help out local entrepreneurs promote their products and services, not only locally, but also to larger outside markets.

“In line with this programme, we also have business-pitching and business-matching sessions.

“Through this platform, we are also exposing our entrepreneurs to digital platforms such as TikTok Live, which can help them expand their market.”

The event also saw the handing-over of financial assistance to the SMEs from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), AgroBank and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC).

The ongoing ‘Sarawak Entrepreneur Showcase’ features 51 trading booths offering various types of food, products and services.

Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Ripin Lamat, and Mintred permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron.