Amr Yehia, from Kuala Lumpur

The 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2026), organized by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) under the umbrella of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), concluded this evening at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur with a grand ceremony to present the MIHAS Awards for Halal Excellence, amid broad international attendance.

Industry Leaders Gather for the MIHAS Awards

The ceremony was attended by high-level guests led by the Chairman of MATRADE, YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican; Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Chairwoman of the Malaysian women’s organization HAWA; Dato’ Hazimah Zainuddin, Board Member; Dato’ Indera Abu Bakar Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE; Prof. Dr. Mohd Afendi bin Saleh, Head of the Halal Centre; and Haji Faiz Mohd Yusof, Senior Director of the Industrial Development Division at MITI, along with Board members, the corporation’s senior leadership, the Grand Jury, representatives of ministries and government agencies, and a large gathering of local and international media.

The ceremony was held to honor the outstanding achievements of Malaysian companies and international industry leaders who have contributed to enhancing the position of the global Halal economy. The proceedings began with an artistic performance by the youth group Sabah Youngsters, who have represented Malaysia at international events in the United States, Vietnam, Singapore and South Korea.

This year’s showcase was held under the theme „Building Trust, Driving Resilience.” Beyond its size and scale, it placed a stronger emphasis on trust, good governance and measurable outcomes, serving as a high-integrity platform where global buyers and exporters could meet with full confidence.

Awards Recognize Excellence, Innovation and Women in Export

This year’s MIHAS Awards featured five categories. The first is the Excellence in Products and Services Award, which honors companies for their outstanding commercial performance, product and service quality, and market potential in the product and service sectors, alongside the Rising Star Award for promising new companies capable of demonstrating growth potential. The second is the Innovation, Sustainability and Digitalization Award, which honors companies that integrate sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values and drive innovation and digitalization. The third is the Women in Export Award, newly introduced this year and dedicated to honoring women-owned companies.

In a gesture affirming the integrity of the awards and ensuring full transparency, all stages of adjudication were monitored under independent supervision, as stated by Mohamad Ridzuan Zakaria, a representative of the independent firm appointed for the MIHAS Awards 2026. He noted that intensive auditing procedures were carried out to verify each winner before the announcement.

Malaysia Targets RM 80 Billion in Halal Exports Before 2030

For his part, MATRADE Chairman Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said: „We are not merely celebrating achievements, but honoring the ambition, innovation and determination of the companies shaping the future of the global Halal industry. Over the past few days, MIHAS has brought together an exceptional community of exhibitors, buyers and investors from every corner of the world, and we have seen how ideas turned into opportunities and conversations into lasting partnerships.”

He revealed that the International Sourcing Programme (INSP) attracted nearly 1,000 buyers and sellers and organized 4,000 direct business-to-business meetings. He also highlighted the Knowledge Hub and the Women in Export Pavilion, noting that the exhibition had welcomed 40,000 trade visitors from 58 countries by its closing day.

He disclosed that Malaysia’s Halal exports reached RM 68.52 billion in 2025, while the government has set a target of RM 80 billion, with the Halal industry contributing 11% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), affirming: „We will achieve the RM 80 billion target much earlier than 2030.”

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