KUANTAN, April 18 (Bernama) -- Pahang is intensifying efforts to strengthen its position in the halal industry through the development of several growing strategic clusters and hubs, Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said.
He cited the Gambang Halal Industrial Park (68.4 hectares), Gebeng Halal Industrial Park (303.5 hectares), and Bentong Halal Hub (14.7 hectares), which serve as centres for the production, processing and distribution of halal products, as examples of such efforts.
“The establishment of these hubs forms a crucial foundation in building a more structured and competitive halal ecosystem in the state,” he said in his keynote address at the Pahang International East Coast Entrepreneurship Summit (PIECES), held in conjunction with the 2026 Malaysia East Coast Trade and Entrepreneurship Expo here today.
Wan Rosdy added that close cooperation between the state and federal governments will continue to be strengthened to safeguard the interests of halal industry players and realise the aspiration of positioning Pahang as a regional halal hub.
He shared that collaboration through the Halal Industry Development Council to develop Kuantan Port in Gebeng as Malaysia’s first halal-friendly port is expected to generate RM15 billion in economic value and create 15,000 jobs over the next 15 years.
Wan Rosdy also revealed at a media conference that the state government would propose increasing passenger capacity for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and that discussions would be held soon with relevant parties, including on future ticketing arrangements.
The 665-kilometre ECRL project has allocated 11 sets of six-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trains for passenger services and 12 electric locomotives (E-Loco) for cargo operations.
Each EMU train can operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h and carry up to 425 passengers in a full economy-class configuration.
The RM50.27 billion national infrastructure project is expected to be completed by the end of this year and begin operations next year.
-- BERNAMA
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