Zurinna Raja Adam:
A HALAL convenience store is slated to open in Wangsa Maju within the next 2 months, as a test-bed for an export franchise halal-mart. The convenience store, which will sell local halal produce, will explore the international halal market that is worth some RM8 trillion per annum.
The European market has been pulling for halal products to provide for 2 billion Muslims worldwide within the next decade. There are about 30 million Muslims in Europe. ‘The halal-mart will be like a convenience store that not only sells halal food produce but cosmetics and pharmaceutical products as well,’ Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Khaled Nordin said. He declined to reveal further details and investments involved of the halal-mart until it is officially launched.
The halal-mart is initiated under Majlis Amanah Rakyat, which provides entrepreneurship training and assistance for budding Bumiputera entrepreneurs. Khaled had earlier officiated the launching of Perbadanan Nasional Bhd’s (PNS) Franchise Service Centre (FSC) at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. FSC is a one stop centre that provides comprehensive information, advice and other related assistance on franchise business. Since it began operation in May, the centre has received some 500 visitors seeking latest updates on franchise opportunities in the country. Beginning this Thursday, FSC will hold a weekly franchise business briefing for future franchise entrepreneurs.
PNS has also introduced new programmes like pre-franchise scheme, young graduates, women franchise scheme and franchise executive scheme to encourage more Bumiputeras to join the lucrative franchising business. PNS has a total of 12 franchise programmes. The corporation is targeting to develop about 1,000 franchisees over the next 5 years.
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