Umno's halal entrepreneur tour provides platform to develop potential in halal industry

KUALA LUMPUR - The Umno halal industry and entrepreneurship affairs secretariat has launched an initiative, called the Halal Entrepreneur Tour, to provide a platform for budding entrepreneurs to develop their potential to a higher level.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who is also Umno’s halal industry and entrepreneurship affairs secretariat chairman, said the Halal Entrepreneur Tour was explicitly designed to open up space and opportunities for entrepreneurs and members of the public who are interested in venturing into the field of entrepreneurship and the halal industry, particularly to be proficient in the professional halal executive training programme.

"Many do not realise that the halal industry has great potential, not only in the country but also as a source of export.

"Malaysia’s halal export value in 2022 stood at RM59.46 billion, an increase of RM23.16 billion or 63.8 per cent from the previous year’s total,” he said after the launch of the Halal Entrepreneur Tour programme here today.

The programme was officiated by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also deputy prime minister, in conjunction with the 2023 Umno general assembly.

Entrepreneurs who participate in this tour will also have the opportunity to take part in the halal internal audit offered by the Halal Development Corp (HDC) to gain recognition and job opportunities.

Tengku Zafrul said HDC has developed a Halal Integrated Platform (HIP), an initiative that creates a business network that connects entrepreneurs and stakeholders in the halal ecosystem through an integrated "super app” platform.

"The HIP will facilitate and monitor the participation of entrepreneurs and graduates involved in the tour so that they are always viable and sustainable in the long term. "Our focus is to ensure that as many graduates and entrepreneurs get information and benefit from this programme and to enable more halal industry entrepreneurs to be born from this programme,” he said.

The minister also said that the tour series is scheduled to commence in Selangor next month. - BERNAMA