Malaysia views Xi’an, the capital of western China’s Shaanxi province, as the gateway to enter China’s vast halal market, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
The minister said he was given to understand that other provinces around Shanxi are also in need of halal products from Malaysia.
“So, we will make Xi’an as the entry point for our halal products to penetrate other provinces and regions,” he told Malaysian journalists after visiting the Xi’an San Bao Shuangxi (International) Halal Food Trading Mart, a local halal products supermarket, here, ahead of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit.
Najib will visit Xi’an and Beijing from today till June 1 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. Ismail Sabri said currently there were about 200 stock-keeping units of Malaysian halal products at the supermarket, most of them foodstuffs, including frozen food, and beverages.
“We will soon increase our products to 500 to 1,000 stock-keeping units,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said close bilateral ties between Malaysia and China have provided better opportunities for Malaysia to export halal products to the world’s second largest economy.
“The Muslims in China have a keen interest for our halal products but the obstacles are the local authorities’ rules and regulations that have prevented our products from entering this vast nation.
“Nevertheless, I believe Malaysia’s close relations with China will yield more opportunities for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sha PengCheng, chairman of the Board of Directors of Xi’an San Bao Shuang Xi Group, said there was huge demand for Malaysian halal products among China’s Muslim community.
Hence, he hoped to see more Malaysian products to be introduced in the country.
*This article was originally published on sinchew.com on 27 May 2014. Read the original article here.