PIHH SEEKS COLLABORATIONS TO DEVELOP HALAL HUB

By Mohd Noor Firdaus Mohd Azil and Zarul Effendi Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- The Penang International Halal Hub
Development Sdn Bhd (PIHH) is keen to work with local, regional and
international research and development centres to further develop the hub, says
chairman Abdul Malik Kassim.

To date, PIHH has secured collaborations with two credible international
universities -- Chulalongkorn University and Prince of Songkla University, both
in Thailand.

"Universities from Indonesia have also shown interest to work with PIHH.
We are also waiting for the response from Universiti Sains Malaysia and
Universiti Putra Malaysia.

"We may also approach International Islamic University Malaysia," he told
Bernama.

Abdul Malik said the two Thai universities were picked based on their
high-profile standing regionally and internationally.

"These two universities are very advanced in their R&D on halal industry.
The Chulalongkorn University Halal Science Centre is one of the world's renowned
centres.

"Prince of Songkla University has also been recognised for researches on
halal products and it has contributed to the development of the halal industry
in south Thailand," he said.

On the Penang Halal Hub, Abdul Malik said the hub is being developed on a
52.6ha site near the high-tech Penang Science Park, with 30ha first phase
nearing completion. Penang is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular
Malaysia.

He said the hub was conceptualised to provide incubation system services,
test labs and networking, among others.
-- BERNAMA