NORTHPORT, SOJITZ MALAYSIA AND NL COLD CHAIN NETWORK SIGN MOU TO ESTABLISH AN INTEGRATED HALAL VALUE CHAIN

PUTRAJAYA, 19 February 2019 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport”), Sojitz (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“Sojitz Malaysia”) and NL Cold Chain Network (M) Sdn Bhd (“NLCCN”) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to establish the Malaysia Japan Halal Value Chain initiative in Putrajaya today. The collaboration is aimed at establishing an integrated halal value chain between Port Klang and Japan by creating an end-to-end logistics network and facilitate halal trade arrangement between Malaysia and Japan.

The MoU was signed by Northport’s Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Sojitz Malaysia’s Managing Director, Mr. Ryuta Katori, and NLCCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Koichi Iwahara. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa, Japanese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission. Also present were representatives from Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (“MATRADE”), Japan External Trade Organization (“JETRO”), Invest Selangor, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (“JAKIM”) and SME Corporation Malaysia.

The signing of the MoU is in tandem with an earlier memorandum signed by Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Hiroshige Seko on Halal cooperation to pave the way for more business opportunities in the Halal industry between the two countries. The agreement was signed in Tokyo during the Minister’s working visit to Japan in November last year.

Under the MoU, Northport will provide integrated end-to-end logistics support and solutions for import and export of halal products through Port Klang. Sojitz Malaysia will provide the required support and promote bilateral trade of halal products through its experience and network. NLCCN will provide halal logistical support for import and export of temperature-controlled cargo in Malaysia and Japan.

“This initiative is in line with the 2nd wave of the Look East Policy under the stewardship of Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed. It is also in line with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development’s aspiration to encourage more Malaysian halal products entrepreneurs to venture into the global market and also to take advantage of the upcoming Tokyo Olympic 2020 in Japan. These efforts will help to boost the SMEs contribution to the nation’s GDP which is targeted to be 41% by 2020, as envisioned in the National Entrepreneurship Framework”, said Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof in his speech.

“Located in Port Klang, Northport is surrounded by major industrial areas and connected to almost all major highways and vast hinterland. Northport is well-positioned to be the Gateway for halal trade. This collaboration will help facilitate local halal entrepreneurs wishing to market their products to Japan,” said Dato’ Azman.

Northport is a subsidiary of MMC Ports, Malaysia’s largest port operator. MMC Ports is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad, a conglomerate involved in ports and logistics; energy and utilities; and engineering. MMC operates Port of Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, Kontena Nasional Berhad and JP Logistics Sdn Bhd.

Sojitz Malaysia is an affiliate of Sojitz Corporation, a well-established Japanese general trading company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a worldwide network comprising approximately 400 group companies and operations in some 50 countries. The broad range of sectors in which Sojitz operates includes those related to automobiles, plants, aerospace, medical infrastructure, energy, mineral resources, chemicals, foodstuff resources, agricultural and forestry resources, consumer goods, and industrial parks. The Company shareholders’ equity is JPY 586.4 billion and net sales based on Japanese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or JGAAP is JPY 4,209.1 billion as at year ended March 31, 2018. 

NLCCN, which is jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad and the Nichirei Logistics Group of Japan, is a Halal Logistics Cold Chain company which offers a complete cold chain logistics solution leveraging on its 200,000 square feet one stop centre with modern facilities and logistics management system. Having served the Malaysian and Singaporean cold chain industries for more than ten years, NLCCN is the first cold chain company to receive the MS2400:2010 Halalan Toyyiban Assurance Pipeline for Logistics Scheme certificate in Malaysia from JAKIM.

The parties intend to collaborate with the objective of establishing the Malaysia Japan Halal Value Chain initiative of integrated halal shipments from Port Klang to Japan by creating an end-to-end logistics operation value chain and facilitate halal trade arrangement between Malaysia and Japan. In doing so, the parties will also promote Selangor as the preferred investment location for Japanese Halal Manufacturers to penetrate ASEAN and Global halal market, capitalizing on Malaysia’s position as a leader in halal manufacturing and certification.

“I believe that with this MoU, our Malaysian exporters especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”) will have a better chance to expand their businesses to Japan and any other destinations via the value chain approach that the MoU partners are providing as the logistics requirements from Malaysia to Japan and vice versa are being streamlined and simplified. I urge all Malaysian exporters especially the SMEs to take advantage of these opportunities which may arise from this initiative and to further improve your products to suite the global market’s needs”, said Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan.

“Northport will work closely with various parties including Ministry of Entrepreneur Development (“MED”), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (“MIDA”), MATRADE, JETRO, Invest Selangor, JAKIM and SME Corporation Malaysia and to use best endeavors to secure their endorsements of the Malaysia Japan Halal Value Chain initiative”, added Dato’ Azman.