KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) must continue exploring the global potential and international market opportunities for the halal industry through the Gate to Global (GTG) programme, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the contribution of the halal industry to the national GDP last year was 7.9% with total exports reaching RM53.72bil.

“I’m confident that Mara can play its role better through the GTG.

“With RM400mil in total sales being contributed to the country’s GDP through GTG companies since 2020, I challenge Mara to double this value,” he said at the ministry’s monthly assembly here, Bernama reported.

The GTG programme implemented by Mara since 2017 aims to improve product development and strengthen branding and strategic marketing to promote local products abroad.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Malaysian Halal Industry Development Council chairman, also said he wants to drive the creation of an Al-Quran generation through education, training and career development to continue to be intensified from time to time.

He said the Community Development Department’s (Kemas) pre-tahfiz kindergarten pilot programme involving 1,500 children at 100 Kemas kindergartens last year, will be expanded to 4,145 kindergartens to cover 64,175 children this year.

“To date, Mara, through its MRSM (Mara Junior Science College) Ulul Albab programme, has also produced 3,564 huffaz (Quran memorisers),” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/17/mara-must-double-down-on-halal-exports-says-zahid