Danial Norjidi in Nanning, China

THE Brunei Halal Brand is visibly seen at the booth of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) at the 6th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi aiming attract investments from foreign countries.

Abdul Latif Sani, Senior Livestock Husbandry Officer of the Brunei Halal Development Division, Department of Agriculture, MIPR, said, “We are looking for potential investors to be our partners in providing raw materials.

As you know, we are very short of raw materials, especially ingredients, which China can provide us — like tomatoes, chilli — then export them in bulk to Brunei where they can be processed for halal standards at the Agro Technology Park in Tungku.

“Basically the objective is, as a Muslim nation, to provide halal food to the Muslims worldwide. The second objective is that we are tapping into the lucrative halal global market, which is believed to be worth billions of US dollars. The third is that we want to take the small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) products to explore the global halal market.

“We are also looking for partners in terms of providing finished products and having commercial agreements with our newly established joint venture company between the government and the Ireland-based Kerry Group. They’re supplying finished products to be branded as Brunei Halal products, and then this new joint venture company will market this branded products to the world,” he said.

When asked how expo visitors have responded, he said, “As we understand, Nanning’s Muslim community is a minority. However, some Muslim associations have come here enquiring about how we go about the halal industry, so I have explained to them how we certify our halal food and how this initiative can be a platform of cooperation between them and Brunei in the form of supplying raw materials, or making products to be branded under Brunei Halal.”

Asked if any companies have signed on, he said, “Not yet, though there are people enquiring how to do it. I have explained to one association, a Muslim Chamber of Commerce, about the halal industry and invited them to come to Brunei during our Halal Expo next year, where they can experience themselves the halal industry, how we process the certification, and to help build their confidence should they wish to set up their own operation in Brunei.

“As you know, the halal market is huge, so everybody is moving towards that market. China is the potential supplier of these raw materials, but they lack the halal certification process. That’s where Brunei can assist them and cooperate with them by certifying their products halal, or they can join our Brunei Halal Brand initiative. The halal industry is looking forward to working with China.”

Aside from the Brunei Halal Brand, Abdul Latif also spoke of the supporting project – the Agriculture Technology Park.

“We have room for potential investors, who are willing to invest and set up thier operation in Brunei.

“We are alp establishing a Halal Science Centre,” he said, adding, “this is more of a technological area where we can cooperate with countries, like China, where there are advancements in technology, especially in the analysis sector, where we can work on methods of analysing in laboratory areas.

“We are also trying to open a food development centre where food incubators will be housed, which will help our SMEs to produce their products and later venture into the foreign market.

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