KUALA LUMPUR: Ten SMEs are exploring opportunities to become suppliers for multinational corporations (MNCs) through the Halal Sourcing Partnership Programme (HSPP) introduced in January this year.
Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) vice president Hanisofian Alias said on Dec 9 that the selected SMEs would receive assistance in obtaining international certificates to allow them to supply products to MNCs such as F&N Beverages Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Nestle Malaysia.
According to him, most of the products being considered are food flavouring, seasoning and colouring.
“HDC will help the SMEs obtain international certificates such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and ISO 22000 to enable them to supply products to MNCs,” he said.
Hanisofian said HDC used to provide SMEs with only training and awareness on the importance of obtaining international certificates. However, this year, HDC received an allocation to expand its scope of assistance to SMEs.
“SMEs are also given guidance on new product approaches and business and marketing models that can value-add their supply chain,” he said.
He described the HSPP as HDC’s biggest achievement in 2019 with regard to empowering SMEs and the agenda to internationalise SMEs in the halal industry.
Meanwhile, he said, the participation of the first 10 SMEs in the HSPP would end next year.
“HDC will review the impact of the HSPP and recommend to the government to expand the programme and enable more SMEs to benefit from it,” he added. – Bernama
