Malaysia Seeks to Expand the Global Halal Ecosystem

Kuala Lumpur: The Halal Development Corporation (HDC) expects 6,000 participants to attend the 12th World Halal Conference (WHC) this year, as interested parties will be able to attend in person and virtually.

HDC CEO Hairol Ariffein Sahari said the conference will be held in a hybrid format for the first time.

The World Halal Conference (WHC) has been recognized as a platform for strengthening international networking and business relationships among Halal community stakeholders.

Hairol said that, unlike other conferences such as the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), the WHC is a platform for HDC to seek government-to-government (G2G) cooperation, focusing on bringing enterprises together to explore business-to-business (B2B) opportunities.

'WHC is not an expo like MIHAS. We focus more on G2G cooperation, and we know we can provide a value proposition to the world.

'In the past, the Malaysian government signed memoranda of cooperation with countries such as Japan and South Korea.

'We know that other countries are also seeking to cooperate with Malaysia to strengthen the global Halal ecosystem, because the global Halal industry offers enormous opportunities, with a current market value of US$3.1 trillion, and current supply can meet only 10-20% of demand.

'The pie is too big for everyone to share,' he said in a recent interview with the New Straits Times.

In March 2019, HDC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), with the strategic goal of strengthening bilateral Halal trade and investment exchanges between the two countries, as well as market access for Halal products and services.

In February this year, it signed an agreement with Acrosx Japan Inc to develop and establish a strategic cooperation framework.

The cooperation will include consulting, capacity building and technical assistance to create a vibrant and sustainable business environment for Japan's Muslim-friendly consumer group.

He said HDC is working with China and a few countries in West Africa, including Senegal and Guinea.

He said the company has also received strong interest from Mexico in cooperating to develop a Halal ecosystem.

'They don't want to miss these opportunities, because there is still a big gap, with supply falling short of demand.

'Basically, I hope every country in the world can play a role in this huge market. First of all, there is no competition, because it is so big - I personally believe it is big enough for everyone.

'So the question now is, how do we help our Halal community capitalize on this, and ultimately make Malaysia the global Halal hub,' he said.

Hosted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the WHC will be held today at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.

Hairol said this year's theme is 'Halal Community Driving the New World Economy,' a unique theme as the industry adapts to the new normal after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the Muslim population worldwide translates into ever-increasing international demand for Halal products and services.

Halal is recognized as a truly global industry, and this growing globalization brings a vibrant opportunity to the global economy.

'However, it also brings some challenges related to global attitudes and rapid technological change; therefore, it carries important responsibilities globally in terms of ethical governance and its unified regulation.

He added that with the current technological revolution, global integration has become sudden and borderless.

This is about cultivating a strong Halal economy that can unlock these potentials.

'WHC2020 is a thought-leader platform that will further prove that the Halal economy plays a vital role in broader global economic returns,' he said.

Hairol said the conference will provide an opportunity for many business leaders and Halal stakeholders to present their value propositions within the Halal ecosystem.

'It has also successfully addressed key issues in resolutions that help guide the direction and development of the Halal industry.

'We are confident that programs of this nature can help transform the economic and socioeconomic well-being of any country,' he added.

The event will include the Ambassadors' Conference: Empowering the Halal Community; the Industry Council Chairs: Responsible Consumption and Production; Driving Halal Economic Growth through Islamic Finance; Halal Champion Success Stories; and the World Halal Night and Excellence Awards.

Some notable speakers and panelists expected at the 2020 World Halal Conference include Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew John Leigh Goledzinowski AM, Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Nail Latypov, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Hiroshi Oka, Food Diversity Inc co-founder Shinya Yokoyama, Kawan Food Bhd Managing Director Timothy Tan, and CIMB Islamic CEO Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff.