Big plans for halal industry, says Tengku Zafrul

The International Trade and Industry Minister stated that Malaysia needs to take advantage of global trends to promote its halal industry, as the country’s halal exports reached nearly RM60 billion last year. The Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, made this statement during his speech at the 2023 Global Halal Summit (GHaS) opening ceremony at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Zafrul emphasised that the 64% growth in halal exports in 2023 compared to 2021 is remarkable. The largest contributor to this growth was the food and beverage product category, with a 58% increase. Other contributors include halal ingredients, cosmetics and personal care products, palm oil derivatives, the chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals. The Minister highlighted that this growth demonstrates the resilience of the halal industry in contributing to Malaysia’s economic growth despite global economic challenges.

Referring to a study by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido), Zafrul pointed out that the reshoring of manufacturing hubs to the Asian region after the pandemic seems to be a long-term trend. This, combined with China’s transition to a knowledge-driven high-income economy, will restructure trade flows and global value chains (GVCs). Multinational corporations are seeking to shorten their value chains and diversify regional production sources to enhance supply chain resilience. Zafrul stressed the importance of Malaysia capitalising on this trend to attract high-tech and high-value investors.

Furthermore, the Minister mentioned that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is committed to driving the halal industry in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP2030) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP2030). MITI aims to develop human capital through the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), which offers updated training programs aligned with industry demands and market changes, ensuring a knowledgeable workforce in the field of Halal. The 2023 Global Halal Summit includes a Halal Professional Seminar, part of the HIMP 2030 agenda, with the goal of creating 700,000 job opportunities.

Zafrul highlighted that the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas), the world’s largest exhibition platform for halal products and services, is a key component of GHaS. Mihas has been organised since 2004, and in 2022, it attracted over 30,000 exhibitors and visitors worldwide, achieving an export value exceeding RM2.39 billion. To enhance cross-border halal trade, Mihas is being held in a hybrid format this year under the theme ‘Paving the way for Halal.’ The 19th edition of Mihas introduces the concept of the circular economy, emphasising reuse, recycling, and re-manufacturing.

The 2023 Global Halal Summit and the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) will run until September 15 at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.