JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 3 — Several foreign companies producing halal products are close to investing over RM1 billion in the two international halal industrial hubs in Iskandar Malaysia here.

Halal Industry Development Corp Sdn Bhd’s Vice President of Special Projects, Prof Malik Musharaf, said the companies will invest in the hubs in Tanjung Langsat and Sedenak, which were owned and managed by IRDA and the Johor state government.

"The companies, from Japan, Indonesia, Turkey and Singapore, are in the final stage of discussions with the local authorities on the investments involving over RM1 billion," he told Bernama here today.

Malik said this at an entrepreneur development programme organised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in cooperation with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

Deputy Minister of MITI Datuk Hamim Samuri officiated the launch of the programme. Also present was IRDA Chief Executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.

Malik said the discussions between IRDA and the Johor state government involved various issues, including the purchase of land to enable the companies to build the factories.

"The presence of foreign investors in the two hubs will strengthen the  efforts to promote the country as the regional centre for halal industry," he said.

He said the hubs in Iskandar Malaysia will also have close ties with halal ports in Rotterdam (Holland) and Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates).

"The ties with the two ports will help companies sell their products in the European Union and West Asia," he said.— Bernama