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Northport (M) Bhd is gearing up to handle halal products through a dedicated
shipping service and special halal zones. It is also on its way to obtain
halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).
The national gateway is also strategising to work with the Port of
Rotterdam, the only certified European halal hub that is an entryway to some
30 million Muslims in Europe.
The cooperation is expected to expand the scope of bilateral trade in halal
products.
Beyond that, Northport also hopes to work with other emerging halal hubs
such as the Port of Marseilles and the Port of Dubai.
Managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Basheer Hassan Abdul
Kader said there was a huge market for halal products and he wanted
Northport to have the recognition for quality handling of halal products
based on syariah principles.
The Halal Express shipping service provided by MISC Bhd with Dubai based
Simatech Shipping LLC leverages on MISC Integrated Logistics Sdn Bhd’s
(MILS) halal supply chain, which has dedicated warehouse and cold storage
facilities in Port Klang.
“We have progressed in some areas such as liner services and other dedicated
areas.
“The only thing now is to get the halal certification from Jakim and we are
currently pursuing that,” Basheer said at the World Halal Forum 2007.
Northport will also expand the facilities and services of its distripark
(distribution park) to include testing and certification of halal products.
The proposed set up is under the recently announced three-year expansion
plan with a capital expenditure of RM585mil.
The certification will add value to the existing services at Northport that
provides direct and feeder shipping connectivity to over 200 ports in Asia,
Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East and reach a market of
over one billion Muslim consumers.
According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation the global
market for halal products is estimated at US$150bil annually.
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