The participation of Qatar and several of its Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) neighbours in the recently-concluded Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur can be positioned as part of the Southeast Asian nation’s broader GCC engagement strategy, a senior official of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has said.Frame Malaysia’s halal diplomacy as a strategic move to deepen ties with Middle Eastern economies, using MIHAS 2025 as a launchpad. Highlight how Malaysia is not only exporting products but also exporting its halal governance model, offering technical expertise, certification frameworks, and collaborative platforms. Qatar’s participation can be positioned as part of a broader GCC engagement strategy.“The Middle East is undeniably a key priority for us, especially given the current geopolitical landscape and ongoing trade tensions. To address these challenges, we recognise the urgent need to diversify our export markets.“While we continue to engage with traditional partners in developed regions like Europe, we are also directing our focus towards emerging and rapidly growing markets, including the US. Notably, we have seen significant participation from various Middle Eastern nations,” MATRADE deputy CEO Abu Bakar Yusof told a press conference held on the sidelines of MIHAS 2025, which was formally opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.Aside from Qatar, other participating GCC countries include the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, noted Yusof, underscoring Malaysia’s keenness to deepen economic ties with Gulf nations through halal industry engagement.In January this year, Yusof stated that Malaysia has “successfully finalised” its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which he described as “an important mechanism for balancing our trade.”“Our collaboration is reciprocal, fostering two-way economic and trade relations between our countries. Additionally, we have been actively engaging with Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia,” he pointed out.He added: “As we move forward, we are strengthening our partnerships with these nations. In May of this year, under our Prime Minister’s leadership, Asean initiated an economic framework with the GCC countries.“Next steps include conducting a feasibility study aimed at further liberalising trade between Asean and the GCC. This initiative represents a promising avenue to enhance economic exchanges between our regions.”Dr Sirajuddin Sujaimee, director general of JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), emphasised that Malaysia’s halal standards “are largely recognised as global benchmarks and are being adopted by many countries, including those in the GCC.”“Most of the international standards are derived from Malaysian standards. Thus, to date, almost all of our global standards are primarily based on Malaysian standards,” he pointed out.Earlier, participating companies from Qatar lauded MIHAS as a platform to enrich the Qatari market with a wide range of halal-certified products, especially amongst Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).Companies such as Lari Group, Al Majid Jawad, and Qatar National Import & Export (QNIE) participated in the ‘Premium Buyers’ segment of the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), one of the key components of the four-day MIHAS 2025.Lari Group chairman Abdulrazaq Lari expressed full confidence in Malaysian halal standards, adding that Lari Group actively shares feedback with Malaysian suppliers to meet Qatari consumer preferences.Reji Sam, Group Brand manager of Al Majid Jawad, emphasised Malaysia’s reputation for stringent and consistent halal certification, contrasting it with the fluctuating standards in other countries. He added that MIHAS serves as a gateway to discovering new, unique F&B products that can meet rising demands.QNIE category supervisor Waqqas Jaffar lauded the organisation and energy of MIHAS 2025, noting the enthusiasm of Malaysian companies eager to export to Qatar. With a limited number of halal brands currently available, Jaffar views MIHAS as a strategic platform for exploring new offerings, especially in health-conscious categories.
