By Veronica Uy
Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino has pledged his country’s full support for the Halal-friendly Philippines Campaign which aims to establish the Philippines as a premier halal gateway and destination in the region.
“The halal-friendly Philippines campaign launched in conjunction with the [Philippine Halal Development Strategic Plan], which Malaysia is fully supportive of, will establish the Philippines as a premier halal gateway and destination in the region,” he said at THEPHILBIZNEWS Embassy Night in Hotel Okura Manila.
In his address, Ambassador Castelino commended the Philippines for the significant progress made in the halal industry, citing its recent achievements in this sector. He particularly highlighted the plan, which is poised to attract P230 billion in investments and generate 120,000 jobs over the next four years.
“In terms of trade, I am truly excited to see the recent development in the Philippines which is on target for another strong growth,” he said, noting that 2024 is the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Philippines.
The Ambassador also invited the audience of top diplomats and corporate leaders to participate in Malaysia’s iconic halal event, the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), scheduled to be held from September 17 to 20, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur.
Recognizing the importance of IT and digitalization, Ambassador Castelino emphasized the potential for collaboration in this sector. He highlighted the success of DEX Connex 2024, a business matching event organized by the Embassy in collaboration with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Philippines private sector.
“A total of 35 Malaysian companies and 57 Philippine partners participated in this event which has resulted in total opportunity value of USD46.42 million (RM220 million),” he said.
In addition to trade and investment, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of people-to-people ties. He highlighted the cross-cultural art program called SENISKWELA, organized by the Malaysian Embassy in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, Artdialogo Asia Founding Artist & CEO Ms. Anna Karina Jardin, and the Department of Education’s Schools Division of Malabon. The program aimed to promote cultural understanding and appreciation among the youth of both nations.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Castelino thanked Mr. Monsi Serano and THEPHILBIZNEWS team for their dedication in disseminating information and raising awareness about the importance of cross-cultural understanding and economic cooperation.