DUBAI: After 20 years, the Malaysian International Halal Showcase (Mihas) has made a major leap with its international debut in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and aiming for RM1 billion in export sales.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Mihas@Dubai 2024, featuring 215 Malaysian companies, reflects Malaysia's commitment as a key player in the rapidly growing global halal economy projected to hit US$5 trillion by 2030 due to the rising Muslim population.
The Malaysian Halal Council chairman said the UAE's significance to Malaysia's trade could not be overstated.
"As our largest export destination in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the UAE accounted for RM14.23 billion (US$3.3 billion) or 38.4 per cent of Malaysia's total exports to the region last year.
"Our exports to the UAE continued to show strong growth, increasing by 7.9 per cent to RM10.86 billion (US$2.5 billion) between January and September this year.
"Hosting Mihas in Dubai, a leading global trading hub, highlights our strong trade ties and paves the way for deeper collaboration and mutual growth," he said in his opening speech.
He said Mihas@Dubai was a strategic decision to leverage the emirate's role as a trading hub in the MENA region to strengthen ties and to globalise the halal industry.
"Our export sales target of RM1 billion demonstrates our confidence in the demand for Malaysian halal products. This is not just a showcase of our commitment. It is a pledge to continue building a robust, inclusive halal ecosystem," he said.
Zahid hoped Mihas@Dubai would foster new bonds and advance the halal economy, which has evolved far beyond food and now encompasses pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, finance and tourism.
He said Malaysia had last year recorded US$12.5 billion in halal exports, with Mihas playing a critical role in unlocking even greater potential for the industry.
"Significantly, the UAE has emerged as the largest destination for Malaysia's halal products among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with imports valued at RM1.13 billion (US$256 billion).
"This strong trade relationship between Malaysia and the UAE underscores the high demand and trust in Malaysia's premium halal products within the region," he said.
Zahid said Mihas@Dubai should not only serve as a trade fair but also as a platform for building enduring partnerships.
"Through our commitment to halal diplomacy, Malaysia seeks to strengthen international ties, create a dynamic halal ecosystem and establish strategic partnerships that advance shared goals.
"However, challenges like inconsistent certification and supply chain gaps still exist. Malaysia is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring halal products are trusted and accessible worldwide.
"Malaysia has developed a comprehensive halal certification system through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), which is internationally recognised. With 88 certification bodies worldwide endorsing it, Malaysia has become a trusted leader in the halal industry," he said.
Zahid said Malaysia had also built a robust and mature halal ecosystem, consistently ranked at the top of the Global Islamic Economy Indicator. He said there were 14 halal parks in Malaysia serving as dynamic hubs for the halal businesses' ecosystem.