Melaka, 21 December 2024 – The Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) and HEXIO are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionizing the Halal industry through advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This partnership will enhance the HDC Halal Navigator (HaNa), introducing the first generative AI-powered Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) model specifically designed to support the halal ecosystem. The official signing ceremony for this collaboration was held at the Melaka International Halal Festival (MIHF 2024) today.
The foundation for this partnership was laid prior to the 19th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in September 2024. During MIHAS, HEXIO presented the HaNa prototype to validate its AI-based solution with market stakeholders. The outcome of this event has led to the development of new features and enhancements to HaNa, better aligning it with the needs of the halal industry.
This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to integrate digital platforms that support halal related businesses, in line with Strategic Thrust 4 of the Malaysia Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP) 2030, which focuses on enhancing quality and integrated infrastructure development. The fundamental of this collaboration is HaNa, an innovative AI-powered assistant that represents a significant technological advancement. This model is uniquely tailored to address the specific requirements of the halal industry, enabling it to generate coherent and accurate documents based on relevant regulations and data provided. The enhanced HaNa will play a crucial role in assisting potential buyers in locating halal products through the Halal Integrated Platform, facilitating connections between buyers and halal product manufacturers as well as ingredient suppliers.
HaNa employs state-of-the-art generative AI frameworks integrated with enterprise-grade application architecture, delivering unparalleled accuracy, speed, and reliability for halal-related inquiries. By incorporating HDC’s Halal Integrated Platform (HIP) database, HaNa ensures that every response is meticulously curated and validated, offering a level of trust and precision unprecedented in the industry. With HaNa leading the way, the halal industry is poised to enter a transformative era characterized by efficiency, reliability, and innovation. Its seamless automation and intelligent insights will allow businesses to reallocate resources toward growth while maintaining strict adherence to halal regulations.
Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of HDC, noted that HaNa will not only enhance operational efficiencies but also provide businesses with essential tools to navigate the complexities of halal certification and compliance.
“We are thrilled to partner with HEXIO to introduce advanced AI technology into the halal industry. This collaboration represents a significant advancement in our mission to support and develop Malaysia’s halal ecosystem. HaNa will transform how businesses connect and operate within this sector.” Said Hairol.
Mahmoud Darweash, Chief Executive Officer of HEXIO, remarked, “ROI-driven technology is essential for future growth. This partnership with HDC emphasizes our dedication to driving innovation through AI. By enhancing HaNa with our generative AI engine, we are equipping users within the halal ecosystem with a powerful tool that streamlines operations while opening new pathways for growth and collaboration.”
HDC is committed to leveraging digital technology to effectively facilitate and support the growth of Malaysia’s halal industry. We invite all halal industry stakeholders to utilize HaNa by registering and completing their business profiles on the Halal Integrated Platform at https://hip.hdcglobal.com.