PETALING JAYA: Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has been appointed Umno's halal industry and entrepreneurship affairs secretariat chairman to empower Malay participation in the field.
In a statement, Tengku Zafrul thanked party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the appointment and welcomed Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad as deputy chairman.
"This secretariat involves representatives from entrepreneurs, the corporate sector, non-governmental organisations as well as the party.
"It is established to provide a platform for the party to speak up on affairs for those in the halal industry to dignify the economy of Malays through empowerment of entrepreneurs," he said after chairing its first meeting in Menara Dato' Onn in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (May 25).
He said several goals were set during the meeting and will be implemented accordingly.
"Among them are to ensure the survival of micro traders, help entrepreneurs transition from medium to large companies, drive and accelerate the development of large companies to the global level, and develop bumiputra technopreneurs for future tech.
"The secretariat also agreed to encourage the involvement of professionals and successful entrepreneurs of various backgrounds and ages to contribute ideas and views to ensure this agenda is implemented successfully
"We will hold engagement sessions with the agencies directly involved in the halal industry and entrepreneurship to meet the needs of the industry as well as the people.
"Programmes with high impact on stakeholders will also be organised, and the secretariat will strive to help entrepreneurs and businesses in need of support, highlighting the economic empowerment agenda to produce a generation of competitive bumiputra entrepreneurs," he added.
