Latest news with #Rizany
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia boosts halal trade with Africa as exports to Algeria rise
NEW DELHI: Malaysia is looking at deepening halal trade links with African countries following an impressive growth in exports to Algeria, one of the region's top economies. Malaysia underscored its interest in boosting collaboration with African partners in various halal industries at the recently held Halal Economic Leadership Forum (HELF) 2025 in Algiers. The event was held in conjunction with the Islamic Development Bank's (IsDB) Annual Meeting and Private Sector Forum. "We had discussions on the need for capacity building and technical training, with Malaysia offering expertise and knowledge transfer to develop local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and certification bodies," Malaysia's ambassador to Algeria Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan told Bernama. Co-organised by the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) under Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the IsDB, and the Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the high-profile forum recognised Africa's strategic importance in the vast global halal economy. Malaysia's halal exports to Algeria in 2024 grew 24 per cent to reach RM156.30 million, with key segments being food and beverages, cosmetics, halal-certified ingredients and palm oil-based goods, Rizany told the forum. "Participants called for greater public-private collaboration and continued dialogue to advance halal economic integration and praised Malaysia's leading position in the global halal sector," he said. "Malaysia is committed to strengthen collaboration with Algeria and other Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to improve halal supply chains, enhance trade integration and support shared socio-economic development," he said. Fostering entrepreneurship and encouraging innovation are seen as key to building resilient halal supply chains, with participants proposing the establishment of halal industrial zones to boost regional production capacity and world market competitiveness. Africa is seen as having significant potential both as a market and production base in the global halal business. Rizany said key agenda topics included mutual recognition of halal certification, enhancing Malaysia–North Africa trade facilitation, investment in logistics infrastructure and support systems for SMEs in halal businesses. The forum, moderated by Samer Elesawi, head of the IsDB Centre of Excellence, was attended by more than 300 stakeholders representing public and private sectors, financial institutions, development agencies and halal industry players in OIC countries. The participants included HDC Malaysia chief executive officer Hairol Ariffein Sahari, PT. ILTHABI Rekatama Indonesia chairman Ilham A. Habibie, Nigeria's Dar Al Halal Group Ltd chief Muhammadu Dikko Ladan, Turkiye's Yildiz Holding general manager Rohaizad Hassan, Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, secretary general of the Treasury of Malaysia, and Issa Faye, IsDB's director general for global practices and partnership. — BERNAMA
Barnama
29-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Digital Payment Deal Boosts Malaysia-Algeria Fintech Cooperation
By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, May 29 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian fintech firm has partnered with an Algerian conglomerate to launch a digital payment platform in Algeria, marking a major stride in advancing Malaysia-Algeria fintech collaboration. Malaysia's BerryPay and Algeria's DIGITEC, a subsidiary of ABD Invest Group, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a payment solutions platform tailored to Algerian needs. bootstrap slideshow The agreement was inked by BerryPay founder and Group CEO Azrin Hadi Abdullah and DIGITEC's ICT and strategy leader Bousbiaa Abdelhak in Algiers, Algeria and was witnessed by Malaysian Ambassador to Algeria Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan "This MoU marks a significant milestone in Malaysia-Algeria fintech cooperation," Rizany told Bernama. The venture, launched with BerryPay's participation, will offer services through a user-friendly mobile application. It is expected to enhance financial inclusion, improve cross-border remittance flows and support the growth of domestic payment systems and e-commerce. Rizany said that although Algeria is still in the early stages of digital financial development, it is making notable strides in expanding e-payment methods and digital banking services. He said Algeria's ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital banking infrastructure, including the Bank of Algeria's introduction of a regulatory framework for digital banks and payment service providers, were aimed at ensuring a secure and structured financial ecosystem.
