Halal Industry Development Corporation Signs MoU with Weifang Sime Darby Port Co., Ltd., China to Develop 1B1R Halal Infrastructure

WSD is a 99%-owned subsidiary of Malaysia’s Sime Darby Berhad, a multinational conglomerate with businesses in the plantation, property, industrial equipment, motors and logistics sectors. HDC will be working with both WSD in China and Sime Darby Berhad in Malaysia to further strengthen Malaysia’s leadership in the Halal industry, particularly in Halal logistics services.

The MoU was signed by YBhg. Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, HDC Chief Executive Officer and Timothy Lee Chi Tim, Chairman of WSD.

The collaboration will facilitate the penetration of Malaysian Halal products into the One Belt One Road (OBOR) network for wider market reach in Northern and Western regions of China, as well as neighbouring countries.

Recent OBOR initiatives aim to create the world’s largest platform for economic cooperation, including policy alignment, trade promotion and financing collaboration, as well as for social and cultural exchange.

Weifang Sime Darby Port’s close proximity to the OBOR network provides an added advantage to the “halal corridor” with links to Muslim regions in China, making Weifang Sime Darby Port the gateway for import and export of halal products. As part of the MOU, HDC will share its expertise and offer training and consultancy services to WSD. This joint effort is expected to benefit Malaysian exporters in expanding their halal businesses worldwide.

According to YBhg. Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, Malaysia’s Halal exports grew by 7.1% to RM42.18 billion in 2016. Total exports to China amounted RM5.4 billion and was featured as the largest export markets in 2016. Halal export is expected to grow 5 to 6% this year. Malaysia exports cosmetics & personal care, food & beverage, palm oil derivatives, pharmaceuticals, Halal ingredients and industrial chemicals to China.

About Halal Industry Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (HDC)
Halal Means Business
The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) was established on 18 September 2006 with the express objective of coordinating the overall development of the Halal industry in Malaysia for both the domestic and international markets. HDC is an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
 
HDC is Malaysia's holistic response to the worldwide demand for better quality products and services as consumers gain confidence in the Halal process. Its key thrusts are to grow and advance the development of Halal standards; facilitate capacity- building for halal products and services; and promote growth and participation of Malaysian companies in the multi-trillion dollar global halal market and industry. Today, there is an estimated population of 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. The global halal market is currently estimated at USD2.3 trillion covering both food and non-food sectors.
 
In its effort to serve as an international hub for the halal industry, HDC provides manufacturers, distributors, retailers, entrepreneurs, researchers and investors with comprehensive assistance to penetrate and serve a growing global halal market through the adoption of the Malaysian experience and expertise in food and non-food sectors. 

For more information, please visit http://www.hdcglobal.com. 

About Weifang Sime Darby Port Co., Ltd., China 
Weifang Sime Darby Port Co. Ltd. is a unit of Sime Darby Logistics, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Berhad. It operates Weifang Sime Darby Port in Shandong, China, the largest modernised multi-purpose and comprehensive port in the Yellow River Delta, and an important feeder port within the Bohai Rim. It is a major transit port for bauxite and a key distribution centre for iron ore in central and western Shandong. It is also China’s major export port for sea salt and marine chemical products and a national designated port for dairy import in Shandong. 

For more information, please visit http://www.simedarbylogistics.com.

About Sime Darby Group
Sime Darby is a Malaysia-based diversified multinational involved in key growth sectors, namely, plantation, industrial equipment, motors, property and logistics. Founded in 1910, its business divisions seek to create positive benefits in the economy, environment and society where it has a presence.
  
With a workforce of over 120,000 employees in 25 countries and 4 territories, Sime Darby is committed to building a sustainable future for all its stakeholders. It is one of the largest companies on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM 64.88 billion (USD 15.17 billion) as at 21 July 2017.

For further information, please contact:

Norsida Ahmad
Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC)
Tel: +6012 3249703
Email: norsida.ahmad@hdcglobal.com

Tan Yee Pheng
Head of Internal Communications & Publication,  
Sime Darby Berhad
Tel: +60193816330
Email: tan.yee.pheng@simedarby.com