Philippines, Thailand Keen On Collaboration With Malaysia In Halal Sector

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Thailand and the Philippines, are keen on collaborating with Malaysia to further develop their halal industry, said the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM). Secretary-General Seri Syed Hussien Alhabshee said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Thailand Muslim Trade Association (TMTA) and the Malay Chamber of Commerce State of Selangor. "With the MoU, TMTA and the Chamber will explore prospects for Thailand-Malaysia collaboration in the halal food industry and hold business matching sessions with our entrepreneurs," he told reporters here Friday. Syed Hussien said a dialogue session held with TMTA Friday, helped the NCCIM build greater depth in networking and collaboration between the private sector businesses of Malaysia and Thailand. Meanwhile, Glenn Penaranda who is the Commercial Counsellor from the Philippines Embassy here, said the country recognised Malaysia's important position in the international Islamic community. "We must work together with Malaysia as we are also moving towards promoting our own halal industry. "There are about five million Muslim Filipinos and whatever we do for the halal industry, we will also be doing an important service for them," he said at a separate dialogue session between the NCCIM and the Filipino delegation. Penaranda said the Philippines is in the midst of developing its own halal hub, the Halal Industrial Park, in Zamboanga city. -- BERNAMA