Malaysian Halal food is enjoying a spike in demand in the US after figures released by the United States administration showed Malaysia strengthening its position as ASEAN’s leading exporter to the country, with halal identified as a sector inherent with good business.

Despite the slight drop in exports during the 11-month period, Malaysia remained the 18th largest import source for the United States, according to the latest trade statistics released by the US Census Bureau.

BERNAMA quoted the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Commissioner in New York, Mohd Mustafa Abd Aziz, saying that the general Halal consumers in the US regard Malaysian food products as good in quality as well as reliable.

“Our food products are also competitive in prices. This is a strong impetus for us to increase our exports to the US,” Mustafa said.

American Muslim

He added that an Arkansas-based company, Simmons Foods, Inc., has been exporting frozen chicken to Malaysia and other Asean countries by using halal certification from JAKIM, which is widely recognised.

The Malaysian Halal standard and logo also makes it easier for Simmons and other US food companies to penetrate into the Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries.

Mustafa said Simmons got a lot of help from a US-based halal certifying agency, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), which works closely with Malaysia’s JAKIM.

He is also trying to entice Simmons to set up a plant in Malaysia. “By locating to Malaysia, Simmons could even set up a plant there and export processed food products out of Malaysia,” Mustafa added.

To further popularise Malaysian food and promote exports of food products and ingredients, the New York MATRADE office has been organising the Malaysia Kitchen Programme. It is also looking at various other ways to increase Malaysia’s food supplies to US importers.

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