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FEATURE
@ Halal | January-February. 2026
Growth in Motion
• Halal has evolved into a significant driver of Malaysia ' s GDP, contributing nearly 8 per cent to the economy and increasingly shaping trade strategy,
industrial planning, and export performance.
• Policy coordination and ecosystem development highlight growth, with halal parks, certification systems, financing, and logistics working in
tandem to strengthen value chains, productivity, and long-term economic output.
• Sustaining halal ' s economic contribution now depends on competitiveness and credibility, as global competition, digitalisation, and rising expectations
all influence how much value Malaysia can retain and scale.
HALAL AS A STRATEGIC ECONOMIC PILLAR:
Malaysia targets the halal industry to contributes
10.8 per cent to the nation ' s GDP.
FOR decades, the halal industry was largely viewed through the lens of religious compliance and was often associated primarily with food production and domestic consumption.
However, that perception is shifting. Recent data and policy signals suggest that halal has become far more than an economic sector, increasingly shaping trade strategy, industrial planning, and long-term national growth.
According to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry( MITI), Malaysia ' s halal industry contributed 7.94 per cent to the country ' s Gross Domestic Product( GDP), equivalent to RM118.2 billion, as of the third quarter of 2025.
The sector also recorded 1,525 registered halal exporters during the same period. These figures place halal among the country ' s more significant economic contributors, no longer confined to a supplementary role.
Under the Halal Industry Master Plan( HIMP) 2030, the government has set a more ambitious trajectory. The plan targets a sector valuation of RM231.1 billion by 2030, with halal exports projected to reach RM70 billion and the national GDP contribution rising to 10.8 per cent.
These goals reflect a strategic decision to position halal as a key economic pillar rather than a niche sector.
INFRASTRUCTURE REFLECTS INTENT
Malaysia ' s halal ecosystem has been shaped deliberately through industrial planning and targeted investment.
Fourteen halal parks operating under HALMAS status now function as cohesive centres supporting halal production, processing, and logistics.
These parks are designed to offer more than physical space. World-class infrastructure, halal certification facilities, and investment support aligned with the National Investment Aspirations( NIA) are integrated into their development model.
Cumulative investment across these halal parks currently stands at RM16.7 billion, with plans to increase that number to RM25 billion by 2030. These figures highlight a more comprehensive understanding of halal as an industrial system that is supported by supply chains, logistics capabilities, and export readiness.
MITI ' s response to a question raised in the Dewan Negara regarding the value of halal and non-halal food markets highlighted how competitiveness in the halal sector is being addressed through policy