MALAYSIAN ISLAMIC CHAMBER TO EXPLORE HALAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THAILAND

HAT YAI (Bernama) – The Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce
plans to explore halal business opportunities in Thailand as the country was
serious in developing the industry.

Vice-President Dr Abd Latiff Awang said Thailand was very committed to
the cause despite being a non-Muslim country and has emerged as the world's
sixth largest producer of halal products.

"The chamber visited Bangkok last year and this is our second visit at the
invitation of the Thai embassy in Malaysia.

"This time around our visit is focused on developing the halal business in
this region," he told reporters after attending a briefing at the Thailand Board
of Investment here today in conjunction with the chambers's three-day visit to
Southern Thailand, beginning Tuesday.

Abd Latiff was confident chamber members could tap the vast potential
existing in Southern Thailand's halal industry given its close geographical
location to Malaysia, huge Muslim population and cultural similarities.

Thailand's main source of halal products comes from Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Brunei, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

He said Thailand adopted stringent halal standards based on scientific
approach and has established a special halal laboratory at the Halal Science
Centre, Chulalong Korn University, to carry out free testing on halal products.

The Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce, established in 1993, has 16
branches and 8,000 members throughout Malaysia, aimed at encouraging and
assisting the Muslim community in the country to engage in business.