By S BIRRUNTHA

HUAWEI Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd and Aladdin Group inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and establish a technology service network for the purpose of creating a global halal-focused social commerce platform.

The collaboration also aims to accelerate growth for all stakeholders involved in the halal and Muslim-friendly products and services sector, leveraging Huawei’s innovative technology solutions such as cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure competitiveness and sustainability.

In a joint statement yesterday, Aladdin Group CEO Eizaz Azhar said the group is pleased to showcase the progress it has made since its return following a corporate restructuring exercise.

“We have plans to create tremendous impact in the market, and through this collaboration, we are on path to unlock the full potential of digital transformation within the industry, placing us on the best path for success in the business landscape of today’s new normal.

“We believe this partnership further enables small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the halal sector to make available their pro- ducts and services leveraging Alad- din’s global network,” he added.

Eizaz said the collaboration is expected to deliver greater value for Aladdin Group’s stakeholders, ensure operational excellence, give rise to transformative enterprise and digital solutions through the group’s platforms, and also help drive Malaysia’s growth in the halal economy.

Meanwhile, Huawei Malaysia VP of cloud and AI Lim Chee Siong said this collaboration is a valuable opportunity for the technology company to venture further into the halal industry by showcasing its expertise in the areas of AI, cloud computing, blockchain and big data.

He added that by digitally transforming the halal sector, Huawei Malaysia will further solidify the country’s standing, not only as the heart of digital Asean, but also as an Asean Islamic and AI hub.

“Therefore, we are very grateful to be part of this work and for this opportunity to lend our capabilities in this pioneering effort to develop technology solutions for the halal sector on a global scale.

“As a global leader in cloud and AI with over 30 years of research and innovation in this space, Huawei has leveraged these technologies to transform industries all over the world. We are, therefore, well-positioned to help companies like Aladdin Group expand and transform its digital services,” Lim said.

As a technology company specialising in the halal and Muslim-friendly segment, Aladdin Group functions as an enabler for producers to access the Muslim consumer marketspace.

Thus, the partnership with Huawei Malaysia is expected to support Aladdin Group’s expansion plans in 40 countries by 2022, serving an over five billion population of which 1.45 billion are Muslims.