Govt Committed To Empowering MSMEs In International Halal Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The government is committed to expanding the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM) recognition, especially to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the global halal industry and enhance the country’s export value chain, according to the Prime Minister's Department (PMD).

The department said Malaysia's halal exports were valued at RM39.44 billion in the second quarter (2Q) of this year, involving 1,499 halal exporting companies.

“Of these, 956 companies are MSMEs, which also play an important role in strengthening Malaysia's participation in the international halal market,” the PMD said on the Parliament website.

This was in response to a question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN–Bagan Serai) regarding the government's strategy to widen the recognition of the Malaysian halal certificate, especially for MSMEs in international markets, to boost the country’s halal export value chain.

The PMD said the halal export achievement involving MSMEs was also contributed by the implementation of various strategic overseas initiatives to strengthen the acceptance and recognition of SPHM globally.

Among the key strategies implemented is the strengthening of international recognition through mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs).

“The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) continues to forge strategic collaborations with foreign halal certification bodies to strengthen the mutual recognition of SPHM over time,” the PMD said.

To date, Jakimhas recognised 92 halal certification bodies from 47 countries.

Meanwhile, as of August 2025, the PMD stated that the total investment recorded in the Halal Malaysia (HALMAS)-accredited industrial parks amounted to RM16.7 billion.

HALMAS is an initiative introduced by the government through the Halal Development Corporation to recognise and monitor industrial parks that meet halal infrastructure and support service standards to support the growth of the national halal industry in a more systematic and integrated manner.

Halal industry training programmes and technical guidance conducted by the State Islamic Religious Councils (MAIN) and State Islamic Departments (JAIN) are also held with the aim of increasing the MSMEs’ readiness to penetrate both domestic and international halal markets.

Among the programmes implemented are the halal certification workshop, MS1500 compliance seminars, halal clinics, documentation guidance sessions, as well as technical courses related to halal standards such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

The PMD said the halal sector has continued to show encouraging performance, contributing 7.94 per cent to the gross domestic product in 2Q this year with an estimated value of RM38.76 billion.

-- BERNAMA