Halal Industry A Key Contributor To Economy -- PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) — The MADANI government will continue to proactively position the halal industry as a key contributor to the national economy, particularly in trade discussions, in every investment mission and bilateral engagement, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Malaysia positions halal as a universal economic model, and it will be part of bilateral talks with Muslim majority countries or non-Muslim countries.
“For example, at the recent KazanForum 2025 in Russia, I highlighted Malaysia's expertise in halal certification and offered our support to strengthen global halal standards.
“At the BRICS Leaders Summit in Brazil, I urged both Brazilian and Malaysian companies to seize business opportunities in the halal industry,” he said in his speech at the opening of Global Halal Summit (GHAS) 2025 here, today.
The event was held in conjunction with the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2025.
Anwar also highlighted that Malaysia has maintained its top position in the Global Islamic Economic Indicator (GIEI) for 11 consecutive years.
“Malaysia's excellence is particularly evident in Islamic finance, halal food, as well as media and recreation. This is a result of the government's concerted effort to position the halal industry as one of the central pillars of the nation's strategic growth,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP) 2030 and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 have set out a clear pathway to position Malaysia as the world’s leading halal hub.
“I must stress that the drivers of the growth of the halal industry are the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Hence, the MADANI government will continue to implement various strategic initiatives to strengthen their role and standing in the global market,” he added.
He also emphasised that under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), significant funds have been allocated to boost the growth of the halal sector.
The sector is projected to contribute RM231 billion to the national gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, driven by strong demand in food, finance and tourism.
“By way of comparison, the global halal market is valued at over RM16.02 trillion and is expected to reach RM22.88 trillion by 2030,” he said.
Anwar said in terms of trade targets -- backed by the robust national policies and MIHAS’ track record, --exports of Halal products and services are set to reach RM80 billion by 2030.
Meanwhile, he said the government has strongly encouraged Malaysian companies to embrace digitalisation in trade to remain globally competitive.
“By leveraging digital technologies, Malaysian companies can enhance operational efficiency, broaden market reach, and unlock new opportunities in the digital economy and cross-border trade.
“On this note, I am pleased to share that MIHAS 2025 will fully leverage the MADANI Digital Trade (MDT) platform, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform designed to optimise cross-border business matching, particularly for Malaysian halal exporters and importers, including MSMEs,” he said.
Anwar said with the support of advanced technologies such as big data analytics, cloud computing and AI, MDT is poised to evolve into an intelligent trade platform and ultimately, become a true game-changer for Malaysia’s halal industry.
“I therefore urge the international community, business enterprises and representatives to embrace halal as a system of values -- one that champions ethical consumption, social justice, human dignity, and environmental sustainability.
“We must empower the public to be ethical consumers, support halal entrepreneurs to penetrate global markets, and build a new generation of halal professional experts who are well versed not only in religious knowledge, but also in food science, technology, engineering, and law,” he added.
Organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), MIHAS 2025 is being held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, from Sept 17-20, 2025.
Themed "Pinnacle of Halal Excellence", the event features 2,400 booths, with the participation of exhibitors and buyers from 80 countries, and is expected to attract 45,000 visitors.
MIHAS 2025 is expected to achieve its sales target of RM4.5 billion.
-- BERNAMA