KUALA LUMPUR: With the overwhelming support from local halal-certified companies onboarding its platform, Alibaba.com will continue to be instrumental in meeting the global demand as well as boosting Malaysian small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) participation in global trade.
The leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, which last year launched an online Halal Pavilion, has seen significant participation from numerous local SMEs in the food and beverage, agriculture, health and beauty sectors.
“The online showcase has attracted a substantial number of buyer inquiries for made-in-Malaysia halal products, from markets such as the European Union, the Middle East and Southeast Asia,” head of Marketing and Business Development of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, Alibaba.com, Nianci Phang said at the 19th Malaysian International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) yesterday.
Phang said that given the noticeable uptrend in global inquiries for Malaysian halal products since the launch of the Halal Pavilion, it is evident that Malaysia is a key market and strong global player in this sector.
Meanwhile, Alibaba.com has today renewed its commitment to help Malaysian SMEs, especially those in the business of halal products to get more involved in the international halal market and tap the growing B2B halal e-commerce sector.
It also launched its first-ever Alibaba.com Halal Industry Report with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
The report provides an analysis of global halal product consumption patterns and trajectories in B2B e-commerce to facilitate more informed business decisions for suppliers.
MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz said that in line with the recently launched Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP 2030), Malaysia’s halal industry is projected to expand to US$113.2 billion, with a gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of 8.1 per cent by 2025.
“The remarkable 63.8 per cent surge in halal exports recorded last year highlighted an infallible opportunity for Malaysian SMEs and industry players.
“This growing sector prompts them to utilise influential cross-border e-commerce platforms, such as Alibaba.com, to effectively promote Malaysia’s diverse range of products and services to the global audience,” he said.
Aside from the high demands of halal products export, the report also announced that Malaysia has been identified as a superior supplier market for halal products given the country’s internationally recognised certification process by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
This results in uplifting the quality and reputation of Malaysian halal products, making them highly sought after by consumers worldwide.
Head of Southeast Asia, Alibaba.com. Roger Luo said this country holds immense significance as a key partner in its e-commerce development roadmap as Malaysia has been established as a strong influence in the halal market with its wide range of products and export-friendly environment.
“With support from our long-standing partner MATRADE, we are honoured to play a part in fostering a thriving export e-commerce landscape in the country.
“We remain committed to helping grow the online visibility of Malaysia’s halal product sector, putting the country in the limelight for global buyers in search of premium halal products,” he said.
Meanwhile, head of Business Development at L. K. Tee Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Nicholas Tee said his company has grown its export sales in halal products from 8 per cent to a significant 45 per cent of its total sales.
As one of the verified suppliers in the online Halal Pavilion, he said his partnership with Alibaba.com since 2008 has helped the company to expand its customer bases across the globe.
“In particular, the online Halal Pavilion has provided us with a dedicated platform to showcase our halal-certified products to global audiences, attracting customers from diverse markets who are specifically looking for halal products,” he said. – BERNAMA
