Malaysia is poised to be a halal hub in Asean for products from New Zealand, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi.Datuk Seri Zahid said this comes after two organisations in New Zealand have obtained recognition from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and can use Malaysia as a springboard to widen its 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 in a press conference after attending the Malaysia-New Zealand Halal Forum here on July 16. He said that he had also proposed to halal industry players from New Zealand that they 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 Plus nations. “We invited the bodies which have obtained Jakim recognition to be part of the council,” he added. “The will be brought up as an agenda during the Asean Summit this coming October,” he added. Asean Plus Plus refers to a broader regional cooperative framework that includes Asean’s 10 member states plus China, Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, Dr Zahid also said that there were talks among several countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council to reactivate the dormant World Halal Council to include both Muslim and non-Muslim nations involved in halal products. He said this was crucial as the global halal market is expected to grow from the current US$1.3 trillion (S$1.67 trillion) annually to US$3.7 trillion in 2030. “The market is expected to grow to US$5 trillion by 2050. Malaysia intends to tap 5 per cent of this market,” he added. (ICE KUALA LUMPUR)

Fonte notizia: 28 luglio 2025, Kuala Lumpur