Malaysia fortifies its position as a premier global halal hub with the signing of two pivotal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Japan. These agreements, enacted on Thursday, herald a strengthened partnership in halal trade, investment, and quality employment opportunities, focusing on the halal sector’s expansion within Japan.
These collaborations aim to escalate bilateral trade relations, centering on the halal market’s burgeoning demand. The Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) under the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) and AEON Co (M) Berhad are at the forefront, championing the promotion of Malaysian halal products across Japan.
Osaka hosted the inaugural MOU ceremony, signaling Malaysia’s strategic push to dominate the global halal industry. An additional partnership with the Japan Halal Association (JHA) seeks to refine Japan’s halal certification infrastructure, streamlining compliance and fostering industry growth.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s presence at the ceremony underscored the venture’s significance. HDC’s alliance with AEON (M) is poised to guide Malaysian halal enterprises toward successful market entry in Japan, utilizing the HDC Halal Integrated Platform (HIP) for enhanced market visibility.
This partnership extends beyond market penetration, embracing human capital development and knowledge exchange to facilitate a unified halal certification process for Japanese dining establishments. This concerted effort aims to champion halal integrity and empower businesses, catalyzing the halal industry’s advancement locally and globally.
A Roundtable Session titled ‘Connecting Halal Ecosystems Between Malaysia and Japan to Enhance Trade, Investment, and Quality Employment’ further illuminated the strategic importance of this partnership. Spearheaded by Ahmad Zahid, the dialogue underscored a commitment to elevating halal standards and practices internationally.
Despite Japan’s modest Muslim demographic, the halal market’s potential for growth remains substantial. With Malaysian halal exports to Japan reaching RM3.6 billion from a total of RM59.46 billion in 2022, the collaboration between Malaysia and Japan is poised to unlock new avenues for trade and investment in the halal sector.
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