As the level of trade between Thailand and Malaysia continues to grow, the Halal sector has become a significant avenue to further increase the volume of trade between the two countries. Malaysia is seizing the opportunity to strengthen its relations with Thailand through a major Halal trade fair in Kuala Lumpur.
With the trade volume at roughly 24.83 billion dollars in 2023, and expected to reach 30 billion dollars in 2030, the chairman of MATRADE, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, noted that one quarter of the volume is generated from border trade.
To boost Halal items produced in Malaysia, the chairman emphasised that Thailand’s southern provinces could become a profitable market for Malaysia.
“Thailand has huge Muslim communities in southern provinces, including Narathiwat, Pattani and Songkhla, which are important markets for Halal food. A trade fair in Songkhla later this year will be a great opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s Halal items,” the chairman said.
Targeting a big share of 3.5 trillion-dollar global Halal market, MATRADE hosted a global Halal trade fair, MIHAS, from 17th to 20th September. The chairman noted that the Muslims constitute about 26% of the world’s population, adding that Halal is not just food consumed by Muslims, as Halal food appeals to everyone seeking healthy and high-quality products.
MIHAS, which has been recognised as the world’s largest Halal trade fair, by Guinness World Records, attracted more than 2,000 booths this year. With 134 booths in the hall, China is the largest country showcasing its Halal products to the world’s buyers.
The chairman acknowledged that it is inevitable to put emphasis on the Chinese market, since China has been one of the major trading partners with Malaysia for last 15 years. “The (level of) acceptance by Chinese consumers of Halal products are unimaginable, because it’s such a huge demand. We need to have very fast-paced strategies to promote Malaysia’s Halal products in the market,” the chairman said.
In addition, the emerging markets, including Middle East and North Africa, are significant. The chairman indicated that the total population of 400 million in these locations can boost the market enormously.
To elevate MIHAS’s impact in international communities, the chairman said that an international edition in Dubai later this year can gain more recognition for Malaysia as the global hub of Halal products. When asked if Dubai will replace Kuala Lumpur as the global hub, the CEO cited that MIHAS is already a very strong brand, similar to Germany’s Anuga, adding that Malaysia remains confident in promoting MIHAS to the world.
“Dubai’s location is ideal for connecting major traders from Europe and Asia, as the city is well-connected to key cities across continents. Dubai is known for hosting prestigious trade fairs, and we hope to internationalise MIHAS to attract global buyers and companies interested in Halal products,” the chairman opined.
By Franc Han Shih, Thai PBS World
