CALL FOR ONE-STOP CENTRE TO PROMOTE MALAYSIA, THAI HALAL PRODUCTS

PHUKET, June 25 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian -based spice powder manufacturer
has called for the setting up of one-stop centres in Malaysia and Thailand to
facilitate permanent promotion of their halal products.

Terra Harvest Foods (M) Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Debby Vijaya said
the centres would enable manufacturers from the two neighbouring countries,
especially the small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), to exhibit their
products under one roof.

Traders from all over the world would also know where to go if they wanted
to get Malaysian or Thai halal products, she said at the Phuket Halal
International Forum and Andaman Muslim Expo here.

Her company is among 30 Malaysian exhibitors taking part in the four-day
event which ends today.

"With such centres, the manufacturers can exhibit their halal products all
year round, and traders and distributors can come anytime to see for themselves
the halal products and do the business dealings," Debby said.

She said although the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
exhibits Malaysian products at its offices, it could not dedicate its space
solely for halal products.

Moreover, the halal products being exhibited there were limited due to
limited space, she said.

Debby said the governments could also station translators in the centres as
well as staff who were well-versed with their respective countries' business
environment.

"One of the main problems faced by Malaysian SMEs when they want to
penetrate the Thai market is communication," she said.

She said the centres would be a win-win situation for the governments,
manufacturers, traders and distributors in further promoting the halal products
from both countries.

She said the centres could also be used as a R&D centre for halal products.
-- BERNAMA