Seni Teknologi and KDU partner to introduce halal food gifts

Seni Teknologi has partnered with KDU University College to offer its students to participate in the development and maintenance of Malaysian halal food gifts (MHFG), in a bid to become a global halal food hub nation.As part of the partnership, the Halal Food Marketplace will be introduced to allow overseas consumers to buy local food products certified by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).According to Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Mohammed Nazri bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, while there are a few halal web portals and mobile applications available, none have been officially recognised. Also, no e-commerce platforms are delivering halal food to overseas buyers, nor have the mobile applications been aggressively promoted to overseas markets.The Halal Food Marketplace aims to fill the current market gap and aggressively promote the e-Halal app overseas, together with the Ministry of Tourism, list Malaysian companies with JAKIM-certified halal food items, and deliver them to overseas buyers. The marketplace will first focus on three countries - Indonesia, China and Dubai.The ministry also plans to develop Malaysia Premium Food Gifts (MPFG), by collaborating with Malaysian companies, universities and trade bodies to develop MPFG that are aesthetically attractive and shelf-stable food gifts.Sheikh Fahmy bin Sheikh Mohamed, CMO, KDU University College said its involvement in the project could offer "brilliant opportunities" for lifelong learning that spans across the research, development and marketing of Malaysia halal food worldwide.He added that the different schools within KDU will be able to play a part in developing MHFGs. For example, the School of Communication and Creative Arts can help enhance the market appeal of Malaysian food and beverage companies and their halal food gifts. Also, the students can research and assist Malaysian companies in packaging their products into premium food gifts for the international market.