Covid-19: The strategic value of the halal industry

THE outbreak has exposed the populations of most countries to a dangerous virus. At the same time, perhaps more importantly, it has exposed weaknesses in supply chains of nations across the globe.The Malaysian government should be commended for establishing a taskforce to maintain critical supply chains. This is an excellent step to ensure that what is primarily a medical crisis doesn’t turn into a broader crisis. With the movement control order (MCO) extended, the role of ensuring supply chains remain functioning will be critical on two fronts — food and medical supplies.This is where the halal industry, especially SME’s, will play an important role in feeding the nation. Over the last two decades, the concept of halal has been progressively applied to various industries from agriculture, food manufacturing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and logistics.Malaysia is now the beneficiary of a forward-thinking policy to address food security gaps 20 years ago while empowering [...]