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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.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean in 2025 is poised to catalyse a new era of cross-regional halal collaboration, particularly between Southeast Asia and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, the top official of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has said.Asked about Qatar’s growing role in halal innovation and its strategic investment across Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) markets, and how Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship and MATRADE’s leadership open new pathways for cross-regional halal collaboration between Southeast Asia and the Gulf, MATRADE chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican told Gulf Times that the two regions are seen as the “main beacon” and “main catalyst” in promoting halal globally.Merican noted that the GCC pavilion "includes participation from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, among others," while the Asean pavilion reflects robust regional engagement, with “300” buyers and “600” exhibitors from Asean countries participating in the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), a main component of the 21st Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), which will run until September 20 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC).“Altogether, out of about 900 [buyers], 300 are coming from Asean. Out of 2,400 exhibitors, 600 are from ASEAN countries,” said Merican, who also highlighted the presence of "first-time participants from Africa and Latin America, including Ghana, Mali, Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Panama, and Costa Rica, as well as Central Asian nations, such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan."“We are seeing a very productive, fruitful, and more importantly, long and lasting partnership between Malaysian exporters and overseas buyers,” the MATRADE chairman also pointed out.Merican also revealed that Asean has elevated halal as a priority economic deliverable under Malaysia’s presidency, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposing the establishment of an Asean Halal Council.“Not just to look at Malaysia as one of the main and premier promoters of halal, but to see Asean as a region being one of the major players in promoting and also in providing the support of a global halal chain globally,” he said.Merican also highlighted the scale of MIHAS 2025’s INSP, which is expected to generate 2.5bn Malaysian ringgit in sales through more than 4,000 business meetings. Asean countries account for 300 buyers and 600 exhibitors, while GCC participation is described as “significant,” with Qatar among the key contributors.