Recently in conjunction with the world's largest halal industry roadshow, the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2023), the Malaysian Standards Department (JSM) held a 'Seminar on Halal Profession' program to present a new standard under the Malaysian halal standard series. The seminar was presented by panelists consisting of various agencies including the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), Malaysian Standards Department (JSM), and Skills Development Department (JPK) presenting standard MS2691:2021 Halal Profession - General Requirements. Generally, this standard details the level of professionalism in the career development of the halal industry. This is a new shift in empowering expertise, especially for those involved in the field of halal industry management.
Furthermore, the objective of the development of this standard is to meet the needs of the workforce, career advancement in the halal field through the empowerment of halal industry practitioner competencies. It can further support halal authorities in resolving important issues such as compliance with halal requirements, halal management systems, and halal integrity protection. The development of this standard has also become a benchmark that the halal industry is getting stronger while growing not only at the domestic level but also on the international stage. It has also given birth to a new form of expertise, further creating sustainable job opportunities. This is in line with the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP 2030) which emphasizes the welfare aspect of Malaysians, which is to make the halal industry a provider of wide employment opportunities and further improve the quality and safety of products.
Furthermore, efforts to strengthen halal careers through this standard are in line with the strategic core in HIMP 2030 which takes into account talent development and career advancement where competent halal practitioners as supporters of an intact halal ecosystem parallel to the halal occupational framework framework) by Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC). Citing the keynote speech delivered, based on the half-term analysis and study of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12) the halal industry has contributed as much as 7.4% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022, until 2022, a total of 385,558 people in the workforce in the halal industry. This can certainly open up more career opportunities.
The industry of halal products and services has grown not only in Malaysia, but also received encouraging attention at the global level. Through initiatives like this, the skills built by halal industry practitioners can also be channeled to the international level in developing and creating a strong halal supply chain network to preserve halal integrity. Therefore, it is also hoped that this standard will also provide added value to the development of halal executive careers as well as being inclusive for academics in the halal field who also equally contribute to the development of the halal ecosystem in Malaysia.
In this regard, congratulations and appreciation are expressed to the developers of this standard as well as the agencies involved in this great and noble effort in recognizing and raising the expertise of the halal industry to a competitive level. Hopefully it will benefit all stakeholders and interested institutions who can finally realize the country's vision of becoming a global halal hub.
