PENANG, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Two local companies who produce halal medical products will become the first companies to start operations at the Penang Halal Industrial Park next year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that Halagel (M) Sdn Bhd, producer of halal gelatine for pharmacies, and GranuLab (M) Sdn Bhd, a producer of synthetic bone graft material, had agreed to build their factories in the park which is located in Bukit Minyak, Seberang Perai.

He said Halagel and GanuLab were in the midst of getting ready to start their operations in the park which is located next to the Science Park there. Both the companies expect to start work on their respective factories in two or three months time.

Lim said this at a press conference held in his office here today.

He said Halagel will invest more than RM130 million while GranuLab will invest RM100 million in the Halal Industrial Park.

"This is among the efforts taken by the state government to build up a successful international halal hub in Penang and the first phase of the park will cover an area of 52.4 hectares," he said.

Lim said Granulab will be also directly involved in the setting up of an incubator centre to encourage the development of businesses and technology expansion in the park and this is expected to attract investments from a variety of multinational companies.

He said the incubator centre which will occupy a 0.8 hectare piece of land, is expected to help 20 other companies to start their operations in the park.

"What is important is that both Halagel and GranuLab are able to generate job opportunities for 500 people and GranuLab will give attention to knowledge-based workers," he said.

He said the chairman of the State Committee for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim was also keen on attracting investments from the Middle East to the park. Abdul Malik will be attending the World Halal Exhibition in Abu Dhabi next week, he added.

Lim today also announced the set-up of two advisory panels to cover the industrial and services sector towards economic development in the future.

He said several experts with experience from the industrial and services sector will be members of the panel and they will guide in the efforts taken to develop the two sectors.

The panel for the industrial sector will focus on the areas of electronics, information communication technologies (ICT), biotechnology, medical devices and all supportive industries in the manufacturing sector.

As for the services sector advisory panel, it will focus on the areas of real estate, tourism, logistics, wholesale facilities, retail, health care and education.

Members of the industrial panel will include the Chairman and President of Mini Circuits Technologies Malaysia, Datuk Seri Kelvin Kiew Kwong Sen, President of the Malaysia Manufacturers Association (Northern Branch) Datuk O.K.Lee, General Manager of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Datuk Rosli Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer of Vigilenz Medical Devices Sdn Bhd, S.Choudhury, Advisor of the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia Penang Branch (DPMMPP), Datuk Faudzi Naim Noh and the Chief Executive Officer of Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Datuk Boonler Somchit.

The services advisory panel meanwhile will have the membership of Chairman of the Architect Association of Malaysia (northern branch), Nik Rahiman Taib, Chairman of the Institute of Engineering (northern branch), Lim Kok Khong, Chairman of the Penang Health Association, Datuk Dr Chan Kok Ewe, President of the Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff, and the Chairman of the Association of Penang Hotel Operators, Marco G.Battistotti while Rosli will represent PDC.

Lim said among the duties of the panel would be to provide advisory services, input and guidance on technology, business, market trends, as well as opportunities and best practices in the respective sectors. It will also inform the state government on the global developments, scenario and the future direction of the respective sectors and also participate in programmes carried out by the state government.

He said investPenang, which will provide the secretariat needs, will also be a member of both the panels.