Amr Yehia, from Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officially opened the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 and the Global Halal Summit (GIHAS) 2026 on Thursday at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur, in the presence of ministers from Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia, ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of trade, standards and Islamic development authorities.

Opening his keynote, the Deputy Prime Minister conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, stressing that this year’s theme, “Shariah and Integrity: Empowering the Global Halal Ecosystem,” embodies the true responsibility carried by the halal seal.

Hamidi said: “Halal is the responsibility carried by the halal seal. Halal is all that is permissible, safe and beneficial, and every business ambition must fulfil this promise.”

MIHAS 2026 generates $1.2 billion in two days

The Deputy Prime Minister announced before global halal industry leaders that MIHAS 2026 generated $1.2 billion in actual and potential sales in just two days, congratulating the Chairman and Director General of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and their team.

The figures come as the showcase, organised by MATRADE from 23 to 26 September, moves into its third day on a high note. This year’s edition features 2,000 booths, 1,700 exhibitors and 450 buyers from 58 countries, and remains on track to achieve its target of 50,000 trade visitors. As of day two, the event has already drawn 30,000 visitors, making it the most attended halal edition of MIHAS to date.

Hamidi, who also chairs the Halal Industry Development Council, revealed that Malaysia’s halal exports reached about RM18 billion in 2025, with the halal industry contributing about 11 percent to the national GDP, noting that only 14.7 percent of halal-certified companies are exporters.

“To achieve our ambition of increasing halal exports to about RM80 billion by 2030, we must help more companies compete abroad,” he said.

He cited the success of MIHAS overseas editions, with MIHAS@Dubai generating RM2.2 billion in sales in 2024, followed by RM3.2 billion at MIHAS@Shanghai in 2025.

Three strategic decisions on global halal governance

The Deputy Prime Minister officially announced three strategic decisions to reshape global halal governance:

First: The official establishment of the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council, chaired by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), with a secretariat in Jakarta, following the approval of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The council will hold its first meeting in October 2026 to facilitate halal certification and bilateral halal trade.

Second: A proposal to establish and launch the ASEAN Halal Council in Malaysia by September 2026, with a clear mandate and tangible priorities, whose success will be measured by the number of barriers removed and the ease of market access.

Third: Advancing discussions on the proposed World Halal Development Council, with Saudi Arabia agreeing to chair it and Malaysia offering to serve as Secretary-General, with the participation of Indonesia, Cambodia and other OIC member states.

MATRADE and JAKIM expand international cooperation

Further cementing its role as a platform for tangible partnerships, MIHAS 2026 witnessed the exchange of key strategic agreements, including a milestone Letter of Intent (LOI) between MATRADE and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).

The collaboration establishes the Halal Development Officer (HDO) Programme under the Malaysia Halal Global Nexus (MyHGN) initiative, empowering MATRADE officers worldwide to guide global industries on Malaysia’s halal ecosystem, strengthen international certification recognition and drive halal exports.

Hamidi, in his capacity as Minister of Rural and Regional Development, also stressed the need for opportunities to reach villages and small towns, and saluted the Women in Export (WEX) initiative launched for the first time at MIHAS this year, as well as young entrepreneurs.

He concluded by calling on governments, halal authorities and investors to use MIHAS and the Global Halal Summit as platforms to turn shared ambition into trade, investment and jobs.

Six institutions shaping Malaysia’s halal ecosystem

The opening ceremony featured an introductory montage video on GIHAS 2026, showcasing the integration of various industries and services that provide a platform embodying the global halal industry.

The video explained that the summit brings together six key institutions that constitute Malaysia’s halal ecosystem and its global outreach: JAKIM, which maintains the integrity and credibility of the halal certification system; MATRADE through MIHAS, which drives the internationalisation of Malaysian companies; the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), which leads industry development and the halal value chain; the Department of Standards Malaysia, which strengthens the standards and quality infrastructure; Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which develops halal research, education and technical expertise; and the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), which promotes the Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality ecosystem through research, training, standards and industry development.

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