Five local businesses will take to the Penang International Halal Expo and Conference (PIHEC) this weekend to showcase their products and services and seek out potential partnerships.
Syarikat Wira Bina, Bellary Nature, ShineBlingz, Al-Huffaz Management and Wing-It! from Brunei will join more than 300 halal-based and Islamic companies at the Subterranean Penang International Convention & Exhibition Centre (sPICE) where tens of thousands are expected to attend.
Founder Al-Huffaz Management Hj Loqman Al-Hakim Hj Hamdan (Left in picture) who sent a two person delegation yesterday afternoon, said the Islamic teaching startup would use PIHEC to seek out and test opportunities for their service abroad.
“It’s our very first time taking part in an international expo,” said 26-year-old Hj Loqman, who founded Al-Huffaz last April. “As our platform that connects Al-Quran teachers and students across Brunei; PIHEC offers us a unique opportunity to cater to the Muslim market already interested in the halal industry. It also gives us a window into what other Islamic or Halal startups in the region are offering.”
Al-Huffaz’s platform currently houses more than 60 teachers conducting Al-Quran classes door to door to more than 120 classes a week across Brunei’s four districts. But the startup’s biggest potential lies in teaching Al-Quran classes to a growing global Muslim population online – leveraging on the strong command of English and large number of Islamic graduates in Brunei.
Al-Huffaz’s representatives attending PIHEC, Nurul Liyana Hj Ismail (Right in picture) and Dk Fatin Nur’Masayuni Safwana Pg Roslan (Centre in picture) also shared yesterday that the startup recently began teaching its first online classes to Bruneian students in Australia and Germany.
“These (overseas) students help to begin putting out the word about Al-Huffaz outside Brunei,” said Al-Huffaz’s chief marketing officer Dk Fatin, who is waiting to graduate with a Masters in Management from Universiti Brunei Darussalam. “Through word of mouth, online marketing and participating in local and international expos we can take our service to the next level.”
In addition to the halal expo held at sPICE, a halal conference will also be hosted at the Olive Tree Hotel as part of PIHEC, which will draw scholars and business leaders to deliberate on the latest innovations and advancement within the halal industry.
PIHEC is organized by Penang’s halal facilitation agency, Halal Penang, and was first held in 2010 with the aim of facilitating the sourcing and selling of quality halal consumables, products and services.
The annual trade fair serves as a convenient and effective one-stop centre for Halal exporters and importers sourcing out Malaysian and international products.
The five Bruneian business participating were gathered together in collaboration between The Energy and Industry Department at The Prime Minister’s Office, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Darussalam Enterprise (DARe).
