WELLINGTON: Malaysia is poised to be a hub for halal products from New Zealand to enter the Asean market, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this comes after two organisations in New Zealand, which have obtained recognition from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), expressed interest in using Malaysia as a springboard to widen their export market.
“I have given them the opportunity to use Malaysia as a hub for the distribution of halal products from New Zealand to Asean nations,” he said after attending the Malaysia-New Zealand Halal Forum here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said he had also proposed to halal industry players from New Zealand to attend the Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2025, which will be held in September in Kuala Lumpur.
“An announcement will be made during the event on joint efforts to set up the Asean Halal Council, comprising representation from Asean and Asean Plus.
“We invited the bodies that have obtained Jakim recognition to be part of the council,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid said the goal of the council is to standardise halal certification among Asean nations as well as those in the surrounding region.
“This will be brought up as an agenda during the Asean Summit this October,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid also said there is talk among several countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to reactivate the dormant World Halal Council to include both Muslim and non-Muslim majority nations involved in halal products.
He said this is crucial as the global halal market is expected to grow from the current US$1.3 trillion (RM5.5 trillion) annually to US$3.7 trillion (RM14.3 trillion) in 2030.
“The market is expected to grow to US$5 trillion (RM21.2 trillion) by 2050.
“Malaysia intends to tap 5% of this market,” he added.
During the forum earlier, New Zealand’s Biosecurity and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said Malaysia is a significant market for premium halal meat products, with exports of more than NZ$60mil (RM151mil).
“Malaysia is facilitating the approval of several New Zealand halal meat premises seeking first-time access to this market, which is crucial to growing exports,” he said.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid and Hoggard witnessed the exchange of letters of intent between Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the University of Canterbury.
The partnership aims to strengthen academic and research collaboration, including student and staff mobility.
