Newsroom

03 December 2021

Launch of 50 halal products in Singapore through the Halal Route to Market Programme by Maybank Islamic

Maybank distributed grocery packs to 300 low-income Malaysian workers

Singapore: 50 new Malaysia-made halal food products have been made available in a Singapore’s supermarket through the Halal Route to Market Programme (HalMap), an initiative by Maybank Islamic to broaden the business network of Malaysian small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs).

In conjunction with the launch, Maybank Islamic has gifted grocery packs containing these new products to 300 Malaysian workers working in Singapore. Minister of the High Commission of Malaysia, Mr. Mohammad Azri bin Mohtar, graced the event of grocery pack distribution on the evening of 2 December 2021 at Maybank@MarineParade branch.

Maybank Islamic rolled out HalMap Programme with the objective of enabling Malaysia-based SMEs to expand their halal businesses overseas. Maybank will provide SME clients with the distribution platform, service advisory and training to market their products in FMCG market segment. The Programme kicked off with a selection of 10 Malaysian SMEs to venture into Singapore’s halal food market. The 50 new-to-market products are available at Eccellente by HAO Mart located in Kinex Shopping Mall. List of products can be found here.

Dr John Lee, Country CEO and CEO of Maybank Singapore said, “Our clients look to us for their Shariah-compliant banking needs, therefore HalMap Programme has developed an ecosystem that constitutes financing and business development. This Programme is made possible by Maybank’s capabilities in serving the Singapore-Malaysia trade corridor, and our knowledge of halal supply chains. We are in a good position to help scale the business of Malaysian SMEs, and at the same time bring more quality halal choices to Singapore consumers. Likewise, we will look at facilitating suitable platforms for Singapore SME clients with halal business to reach other countries, such as those in halal healthcare and fintech for halal sector.”

Maybank Singapore and Malaysian Association in Singapore (MASIS) also launched a “Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) Support Fund”, amounting to S$40,000, to help low-wage Malaysian workers return home through the Singapore-Malaysia Land VTL. Under the Maybank-MASIS VTL Support Fund, Malaysians with a valid Singapore work permit are able to apply through MASIS for up to S$300 in reimbursement to offset expenses relating to ART or PCR testing.

Distribution of grocery packs

In conjunction with these launches, Maybank Singapore has made a Zakat fund donation of S$30,000 to purchase the new-to-market items produced in Malaysia, and distribute them to 300 low-income Malaysians working in Singapore.

On 2 December 2021 at Maybank@MarineParade, 10 beneficiaries were invited to a distribution ceremony that was graced by Mr. Mohammad Azri bin Mohtar, Minister of the High Commission of Malaysia.

Others in attendance were MASIS Management Committee Member Mr Lee Ji En, volunteer leader Mr Razib Ibrahim, Country CEO and CEO of Maybank Singapore Dr John Lee, as well as Mr Gregory Seow.

Mr Gregory Seow, Head of Global Banking at Maybank Singapore, said, “Maybank Singapore has been supporting Malaysian workers through MASIS since Covid-19 circuit breaker last April. Before the VTL scheme between Singapore and Malaysia was opened, many of these workers could not cross the borders to return home, and now there is a ‘queue’ to return home. We thought this gesture of sampling halal food items from their home country could help alleviate their homesick feelings. We will continue to assist where we can as part of our mission to Humanise Financial Services in the community we operate in.”