Malaysia has called for deeper international cooperation to turn the rapid growth of the global halal economy into greater trade, investment and employment opportunities.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made the appeal on Friday while opening the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2026) and the Global Halal Summit 2026 (GHaS 2026) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Addressing government officials, international delegations and industry representatives, Zahid said closer collaboration was needed to remove barriers and help halal businesses enter new markets.
“Let us turn that shared ambition into trade, investment and jobs,” he said.
“Our work must continue beyond this gathering. Success will only be measured by the barriers we remove, the partnerships that endure, and the businesses that reach new markets.”
Zahid stressed that obtaining halal certification should be viewed as the starting point rather than the final objective for companies seeking international expansion.
“Certification is only the beginning of that journey,” he said, adding that businesses also require consistent production, appropriate packaging, access to working capital, dependable logistics and knowledge of overseas markets.
Only around 14.7% of Malaysia’s halal-certified companies currently export, according to Zahid. “To realize our ambition, we must help more of these companies compete abroad,” he said.
He pointed to recent international editions of MIHAS as evidence of the sector’s commercial potential. The Dubai event generated 2.2 billion Malaysian ringgit ($540 million) in sales in 2024, while MIHAS Shanghai recorded 3.2 billion ringgit ($785 million) in 2025.
Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan, meanwhile, emphasised that Malaysia sees halal as extending beyond certification and commerce.
“Halal is not simply a matter of standards, certification or trade,” he said, arguing that Shariah principles, integrity, ethics and responsibility provide the trust needed for the sector’s sustainable development.
Zulkifli said Malaysia’s halal strategy encompasses trade, investment, innovation, research, skills development and international market access. He also highlighted JAKIM’s recognition of foreign halal certification bodies, describing the system as creating a global “chain of trust” for halal products and services.
GHaS 2026 is being held under the theme “Shariah and Integrity: Empowering the Global Halal Ecosystem,” while MIHAS runs from September 23 to 26 under the theme “Shaping Trust, Driving Resilience.”