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COVER STORY
@ Halal | July-August. 2026
Breaking boundaries
• WiEX provides mentorship, financing, and networks to help women export globally.
• MIHAS connects brands with buyers and partners to make international entry easier.
• Kak Long aims to be a trusted Malaysian halal brand and a model of women-led success worldwide.
Dato’ Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid
BUILDING a business at home is one thing. Taking that business into international markets requires a different set of connections, knowledge and confidence— and this is where Dato’ Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid sees an important role for Women in Export( WiEX).
As founder of Kak Long Cooking Oil, Nurulhidayah knows making a product is just the beginning. The real challenge is finding buyers, breaking into new markets, and building strong partnerships.
She believes Women in Export connects women entrepreneurs to the support needed for global success.
SUPPORT THAT MATTERS
Encouragement alone isn’ t enough.“ We need practical support, not just motivation,” Nurulhidayah explained.
Mentorship, financing, and strong networks are essential for women entrepreneurs— especially for finding reliable partners abroad and turning preparation into real global opportunities.
“ Access to financing, buyers, distributors, and market knowledge are the main challenges,” said Nurulhidayah.
She added that understanding each country’ s unique market and having the right partners, makes all the difference.
Nurulhidayah believes support for women entrepreneurs must go beyond motivation to provide real tools and connections that enable entry into
foreign markets. She stressed:“ We need more practical support, not just motivation.”
Nurulhidayah believes mentorship, financing, market access, business networks, and direct links to international buyers are essential to turning preparation into real opportunities.
Platforms like MIHAS are valuable for Malaysian women-led brands, creating opportunities to meet buyers and partners beyond traditional channels.
Nurulhidayah sees MIHAS as more than a showcase— it’ s a place to gauge international interest, learn about new markets, and build relationships that open export opportunities.
TIES THAT EMPOWER
For Kak Long Cooking Oil, building connections is key to international growth. Through MIHAS, Nurulhidayah hopes to find new markets and partners to help the brand establish sustainable overseas channels.
READY FOR THE
WORLD: Kak Long Cooking Oil sets its sights on international markets.
International success requires finding the right market, understanding consumers, and building strong partnerships— not just exporting products. Women in Export helps make global expansion a supported journey, not a solo leap.
Nurulhidayah sees Malaysia’ s strong halal reputation as a valuable entry point for homegrown brands in international markets, especially in Muslim-majority countries.
However, she believes Malaysia should go further— building brands known globally for quality, innovation, and a strong identity, not just halal certification.
This is where women-owned businesses can play a bigger role in Malaysia’ s halal economy. With the right support, local brands can grow into international names while carrying Malaysian values and products into new markets.
For Nurulhidayah, ambition is not limited to cooking oil. She wants to see Malaysian women across industries gain