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Halal Silk Road: Malaysia Charts A Certifiable Course Into China

Halal Silk Road: Malaysia Charts A Certifiable Course Into China

BusinessToday16-05-2025
The Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), has entered a strategic partnership with Muslim Friendly Watch (MFW) to accelerate growth in the halal market between Malaysia and China—one of Malaysia's top halal export destinations in 2024 with trade valued at RM7.04 billion.
With China's halal industry booming due to a Muslim population of over 20 million and surging demand among non-Muslim consumers, the partnership is designed to streamline access to halal certification for Chinese businesses. Leveraging MFW's Muslim-friendly guidelines and HDC's technical expertise, the collaboration will enable Chinese firms to align with Malaysia's globally recognised halal standards, particularly as China moves to unify its own halal certification system.
The initiative will also open doors for Malaysian SMEs to enter China's expanding halal sector via e-commerce platforms, aided by access to digital market ecosystems, business financing, and B2B/B2C matching.
Supporting transparency and trust, HDC and MFW will implement the Muslim Choice System, conduct stakeholder engagement, and promote awareness programmes to reinforce Malaysia's halal leadership globally.
Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of HDC, said, 'Together with MFW, we aim to strengthen Malaysia-China Halal business relations and leverage digital platforms to expand market access.'
Noorman Kamsani, President of Muslim Friendly Watch, added, 'It enables businesses to transition more confidently towards Halal certification, supported by a framework that signifies consumer expectations and industry standards.'
The partnership takes effect immediately and underscores Malaysia's ongoing Halal Diplomacy drive in key international markets. Related
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