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Daily Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
DPM Fadillah: Malaysia, Russia to deepen economic ties in halal industry, agriculture
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (right) shares lunch with First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Damir Vaisovich Mukhetdinov (left), after performing Friday prayers at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, yesterday. — Bernama pic--fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED Moscow: Malaysia and Russia will deepen economic cooperation, particularly in high-potential sectors such as the halal industry, agriculture and food security, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said. Fadillah said bilateral trade between the two countries remained modest in 2024, despite Russia's large economy. Russia ranked as Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner among European nations this year, with total trade reaching RM11.46 billion (US$2.48 billion). Malaysia's key exports to Russia include electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and parts, as well as processed food. 'I invited Russian companies to invest in Malaysia and take advantage of the government's incentives in strategic sectors such as aerospace, agrotechnology, energy, ICT (information and communications technology), the digital economy, Islamic finance and the halal industry,' the Deputy Prime Minister said. He was speaking at a press conference at the end of his four-day working visit to Russia late last night. Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, called for cooperation in agriculture and food security, and proposed joint research and development in fertiliser and pesticide technologies, agro-engineering and food technology. 'I discussed collaboration in higher education and conveyed appreciation to the Russian government for its scholarships to Malaysian students. 'I also proposed that these scholarships be extended to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, big data and information science, in line with current industrial transformation,' he said. On tourism, Fadillah said Malaysia welcomed a proposal for direct flights between the two countries, which is expected to be finalised soon. However, he noted that Russia had raised concerns over financial transactions, which had to some extent hampered the growth of bilateral trade. He gave an assurance that the Malaysian government, through the relevant agencies, including Bank Negara Malaysia, would continue to facilitate smooth financial transactions between both sides. 'I will present the outcomes of my discussions with Russian counterparts to the Cabinet upon my return to Malaysia. 'In shaa Allah, I am confident that Malaysia–Russia cooperation will continue to develop positively and bring tangible benefits to our country,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, Russia Forge New Paths in Global Halal Market
Doha – Morocco and Russia are strengthening ties in the halal industry through new certification agreements. Tatarstan's Committee for Halal Standards under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims plans to obtain accreditation in Morocco. This will enable exports of halal products to the North African country. 'On all these countries we submitted applications,' said Tatarstan's committee chairman Abbas Shlyaposhnikov, referring to Morocco among other countries. 'Until the end of this year, we have planned progressive work. We are confidently moving in this direction.' Morocco continues expanding its global halal footprint. In June 2024, Abderrahim Taibi, director of the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (IMANOR), spoke at the Halal Morocco Forum in Casablanca. He noted that Morocco and Africa have important potential to increase their share in the global halal market. The global halal market, estimated to exceed $2 trillion, continues to experience steady growth. During the same forum, IMANOR signed a recognition agreement for the 'Halal Morocco' mark with Singapore's Halal Authority. Notably, Morocco had already inked an agreement in 2020 to export Moroccan halal products to Russia. This adds to Morocco's growing list of international halal partnerships. Read also: Halal 'Wild Boar' Butcher Shop Shut Down in France In a similar pivot toward Asian markets, Morocco's Ambassador to Vietnam, Jamale Chouaibi, stated in January that Morocco is prepared to assist Vietnam in emerging as a major hub within Southeast Asia's Islamic-certified goods sector. Morocco's halal standards are particularly stringent for imported meat products. By November 2024, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) had implemented a rigorous control system for imported red meat. The system requires all meat to comply with Islamic slaughter standards. Only countries passing ONSSA's risk assessment can export to Morocco. Certifications from authorized religious bodies in exporting countries must confirm compliance with halal requirements. For Russia, specifically Tatarstan, securing accreditation in Morocco would open new export opportunities. In 2025, Tatarstan aims to increase its halal exports. The region's total export plan amounts to $15 million, up from $14 million the previous year. Currently, 250 enterprises in Tatarstan produce halal products, with about 20 of them exporting abroad. Last year, Tatarstan's Committee for Halal Standards was accredited by the Gulf Accreditation Centre (GAC). The Russia-Morocco halal cooperation represents part of a broader trend. Both Rabat and Moscow are working to establish themselves as key players in the growing Halal-compliant products sector. Tags: Halal EconomyMorocco Russian relations
Russia Today
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Russian mufti offers Simpsons conspiracy theory
People behind The Simpsons use the animated sitcom to 'program' the audience and prepare it for real-life events, a senior Russian mufti has claimed. Mufti Aynur Birgalin, the chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Russia's Muslim-majority Bashkortostan Republic, went viral on Wednesday after an excerpt from his sermon was shared online. During a gathering of Muslims in the regional capital of Ufa, Birgalin said that the Simpsons 'predicted' actual events, such as pandemics. Fans have long joked that during its nearly 40-year run, the animated comedy show predicted many historical events, including the presidency of Donald Trump. Birgalin, however, argued that 'behind-the-scenes conductors' use the show to influence the public. 'We often hear that The Simpsons are supposedly predicting the future. But let's think about it. Can it be mere coincidences? No, of course not,' the cleric told the news website on Wednesday. 'These are not predictions but the deliberate work of specific forces to implant certain concepts via pop culture to test the public's reaction and prepare people for different events,' he claimed. Birgalin suggested that movies, TV shows, and memes are being used to 'program' the audience and control how they think. The mufti claimed that the plot of the American series Madam Secretary is 'nearly 90% identical' to the real-life events in Ukraine. The show centered around fictional US Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord ran from 2015 to 2016. It had a Ukrainian character with the last name Zelinsky, which sounds similar to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who was elected president in 2019. 'A coincidence? No. It is a pre-planned scenario. It is not a joke. It is not a cause for laughter, but a serious signal to think about,' Birgalin stated. In 2024, The Simpsons showrunner and executive producer Matt Selman told People magazine, 'If you study history and math, it would be literally impossible for us not to predict things.' He added that 'if you say enough things, some of them are going to overlap with reality.'
