Kazakhstan and Malaysia to start joint production of halal food

Kazakhstan and Malaysia may open a joint company for production of halal food, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Nursultan Nazarbayev’s press-service. “We are interested in participation of Malaysian business in the program of accelerated industrial-innovative development of Kazakhstan and opening joint companies with the full cycle of production of meat and flour halal-food,” Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said after negotiations with Malaysian Prime-Minister Najib Tun Razak. A year ago during the visit to Kazakhstan Najib Tun Razak suggested that Astana might become a halal center in Central Asia. Besides, according to Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan is interested in joint projects in energy, modernization of oil-processing facilities, production of mineral resources, oil chemistry, construction, finance and tourism. In his turn, Najib Tun Razak said that Malaysia considers Kazakhstan its anchor for entering the market of the Common Economic Space. Kazakhstan President noted that besides politics and economy, cultural connections between the countries have to be enhanced as well. “Over 2 thousand Kazakhstan students are currently studying in Malaysia. I am sure that the knowledge and experience they get will become the basis for our productive cooperation in the 21st century. Kazakhstan also welcomes students from Malaysia,” Nazarbayev stressed. Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines. Muslim followers cannot consume pork or pork by products, blood and blood by products, alcohol, carnivorous animals, birds of prey, land animals without external ears. By Renat Tashkinbayev