Malaysia is taking steps to become a halal gelatine supplier for the global market, said Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

This, he said, could reduce the halal gelatine import into the country by 30 percent.

“This will also increase opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be involved competitively in the halal gelatine supply chain,” he said during the question session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to a question from Halimah Mohamed Saddique (BN-Kota Tinggi), who wanted to know about high impact programmes planned by the ministry to realise the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030.

Mohd Redzuan said the initiative to be the halal gelatine supplier was among the measures taken by the ministry in exploring industries with high impact to local entrepreneurs following the mandate given to the ministry to develop the halal industry through the Halal Industry Development Committee.

He explained that the ministry was the facilitator of the processes and procedures for local entrepreneurs who met the criteria to export halal products to the international market.

“For example, by organising the Malaysia Halal Expo 2019 earlier this year, sales amounting to RM135 million were recorded as a result of business matching between 21 anchor companies and 144 exhibitors comprising local SMEs.

“Efforts will be intensified in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to provide greater access for local SMEs to promote their products and services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Redzuan said in line with the NEP 2030, the ministry, through the SME Corporation, is working to develop the aerospace industry as an industry which will drive the country's economy to a new level through the Aerospace Manufacturing Initiative (AMI).

“As of Sept this year, 30 SMEs participated in the AMI programme and RM58.9 million in total sales related to the aerospace industry have been generated,” he said.

Mohd Redzuan said AMI was seen as an opportunity for SMEs to tap into the medium and large-scale business markets, including as the main distributors to the world's leading aerospace companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki.

- Bernama