Driving halal sector to global heights

Vast potential: Mohd Zuhairi striking the gong at MHE 2023 in Selangor. With him (from left) are Mohammad Sahar, Jakim director of Halal Management division Mohamad Zamri Mohamed Shapik and HQC Commerce chief executive Datuk Khairul Shahril Hamzah. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

MHE 2023 aims to help local businessmen explore ventures at international market

SERI KEMBANGAN: The Malaysia Halal Expo 2023 (MHE), which aims to strengthen the domestic halal market, is expecting to generate between RM3mil and RM5mil in sales.

The event, being held at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre here until tomorrow, sees some 123 companies and organisations showcasing a wide range of halal products in sectors from food and beverages, education, cosmetics and fashion to ecommerce, pharmaceutical, tourism, banking and finance.

“There are more than 40 business delegations from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam,” said Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh.

“This will open up the opportunity for more business ventures between local and overseas entrepreneurs.”

Fuziah said the ministry had set a retail sales target for this expo of RM4mil. Themed “Empowering Locals for Global Sustainability”, the event highlights the strength and potential of local halal businesses, as well as the products and services they offer.

The expo also features several side activities including business and job matching and talks to help local businessmen expand their markets overseas, aside from creating more job opportunities, especially for the youth.

“The business matching initiative will open the door to greater business opportunities for local entrepreneurs and will allow them to be more prepared for the international market,” Fuziah said at the opening yesterday.

She said the job matching session is in line with the Malaysia Madani concept, which seeks to improve the economic level of Malaysians by creating more jobs.

“This is another twist in the organiser’s efforts to give opportunities to local entrepreneurs in discovering the best and talented employees.

“More than just in search for workers, this initiative can help reduce the country’s unemployment rate and further market graduates, especially those related to the halal industry,” she said in her speech that was read by Selangor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director Mohd Zuhairi Mat Radey.

The Business Pocket Talk, she said, will provide an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to pick up and exchange insights and business strategies from leading industry experts.

According to the World Bank, the largest component of the Halal Economy in Malaysia is the food services sector, with revenue in the sector estimated at RM128.8bil in 2021 and expected to reach RM201.02bil by 2025.

Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce president Mohammad Sahar Mat Din said he hopes the expo will serve as a platform for Malaysians to understand the halal concept.

“We welcome our non-Muslim friends to cooperate with players from the halal industry for better business opportunities.

“Our Jakim logo (halal certification for businesses and products by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department) is recognised throughout the world and we should leverage on this strength,” he said.

Jakim and the Islamic Religious Council for the states have been recognised as authoritative bodies in handling halal certification matters in the country as stated under the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011.

MHE2023 is open to the public from noon to midnight from Sept 1-3. The main sponsors for this year’s expo are property development company EcoWorld and Affin Bank.

The exhibition features various types of activities from cooking demos to make-up contests, latte art demos, a giant inflatable playground and a petting zoo.