A media launch of the 17th Edition of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase was held online on Sept 6, 2021. (SCREENSHOT VIA ZOOM)
Malaysia is set to kick off one of the world’s biggest halal trade events on Sept 9 to provide a virtual platform for local and international market players, boosting the global halal economy during the pandemic.
Under the theme Empowering Halal, Tomorrow, Together, this year’s MIHAS will be hosted by the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry and organized by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), said Chairman Halim Mohammad o fMATRADE, a national trade promotion agency of Malaysia.
More than 500 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions will participate in the 17th Malaysia International Halal Showcase, including new entrants from Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina
Due to the pandemic, the event will be held online for the first time, running from Sept 9 to Dec 31. More than 500 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions will participate in the trade event, including new entrants from Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
About 50 percent of exhibitors are from countries outside Malaysia. Indonesia ranks top with 45 exhibitors and China comes in second with 25 exhibitors, followed by the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, according to Halim.
A series of thought-provoking knowledge-sharing sessions will also be held on Sep 10-12 to provide industry insight to participants, covering various halal-related topics including Islamic finance, innovation, business sustainability, digital economy and the role of female entrepreneurs in the halal economy.
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“Malaysia remains a major global leader in the halal economy, sustaining a top position in the Global Islamic Economic Indicator for eight consecutive years,” said the chairman of MATRADE, at the online media launch of the 17th Malaysia International Halal Showcase, or MIHAS, on Sept 6.
The Global Islamic Economic Indicator is a ranking index that measures the overall development of each country regarding the performance of its Islamic economic sectors in line with the broader social obligations.
“This is a promising indicator of recovery from Malaysia’s halal export performance, (which is) in line with the country’s very encouraging entrepreneurial trade performance that we have seen in the first seven months of 2021,” said Halim, noting the country’s export achieved 11 consecutive months of year-on-year expansion by July since September 2020.
Noting MIHAS is a key halal trade event for the global halal economy, Halim said the event has attracted over 400,000 visitors from 88 countries and facilitated 17.2 billion ringgit (US$4.1 billion) in total sales since 2004.
“We have served as a robust global marketplace for both international and local players to seize the opportunities in halal food, halal pharmaceuticals, medical services, media and recreation, finance, modest fashion, personal care, cosmetics, green technology and even Muslim tourism,” said Halim.
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Halim Mohammad, chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, speaks at an online media launch of the 17th Edition of the Malaysia International Halal Showcaseon Sept 6, 2021. (SCREENSHOT VIA ZOOM)
MATRADE CEO Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz said the halal industry is a growing industry in Malaysia and an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises are coming on board to promote their products and services to the international market.
“MIHAS is a platform that provides this opportunity to the SMEs to showcase the products as well as to get connected to the international buyers,” said Mohd Mustafa.
MATRADE Deputy CEO of Export AccelerationSharimahton Mat Sallehsaid a business matching session powered by artificial intelligence will be held during the online trade event, connecting exhibitors with international buyers through the virtual exhibition platform.
“We’d like the foreign markets to look at halal as a unique value proposition, not only for the Islamic ethical values but (because) the halal economy represents actually a quality assurance and is also embracing sustainable development goals,” said Sharimahton.
