Factor Affecting the Ability of Halal Food Entrepreneurs to Compete in AEC: A Case Study of Halal Food Entrepreneurs in Songkhla, Thailand and Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the competitive ability of halal food entrepreneurs in between Songkhla, Thailand, and the state of Kedah, Malaysia. The 240 samples were selected randomly. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire and the data were analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, T-test and One-Way ANOVA.The competitive readiness in this study was divided into three parts: international readiness, working readiness, and marketing readiness. These three aspects were analyzed and compared between both groups. The findings indicate that the level of competitive readiness of Songkhla and Kedah halal food entrepreneurs is different significantly. In fact, the readiness in international skill aspect, for instance, language and communication skill seems to be a serious issue for Songkhla halal food entrepreneurs. The working and marketing readiness sof the entrepreneurs are high and not significantly different between the two groups. As a result, Thailand should increase the ability of Songkhla halal food entrepreneurs to compete in the ASEAN market by improving their international communication skill as a first priority.