By K.Kasturi Dewi, The Star

June 30, 2010

Marine biotech firm from China to set up RM150mil plant by year-end

GEORGE TOWN: A marine biotechnology company from China will be the first to set up shop at the Penang Halal Industrial Park in Bukit Minyak near Bukit Mertajam by the end of the year.

Penang Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said yesterday the company would invest RM150mil in its plant expected to be operational later this year.

“There are three other foreign investors from Iran, India and Australia who are in the final stages of signing a deal to set up business at the halal park,” he told reporters during a press conference in Komtar yesterday.

Abdul Malik said Halal Penang had so far attracted more than RM200mil in foreign investments.

“Besides the Chinese company, another company setting up a halal gelatin manufacturing plant using Iranian technology has invested RM120mil

“Halal Penang signed a memorandum of understanding with Investmy International Ltd (a company from Yemen) and International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHL Alliance) during the World Halal Forum 2010 held on June 21 and June 22,” he said.

Abdul Malik said Halal Penang would have a strategic collaboration with Investmy to set up a Halal Industrial Park in Haddah Sana’a, Yemen, while IHI Alliance would work with Halal Penang to train and generate halal-certified auditors.

He said other future ventures involved collaboration with Pakistan and the setting up of a halal park in Medan, Indonesia.