WHBC 2025

@ Halal | November-December. 2025

• Malaysia reaffirmed its leadership in the global halal economy at WHBC 2025, held alongside MIHAS 2025, with a focus on innovation, partnerships,

and sustainable growth.

• Over 10,000 halal-certified companies now contribute to Malaysia’ s growing ecosystem, driven by collaboration between regulators, SMEs, and

corporations.

• Industry leaders from Duopharma, Dutch Lady, and Hong Leong Islamic Bank shared insights on building collaboration and driving innovation in

the halal sector.

Themed“ Halal: Beyond Boundaries”, the one-day conference gathered policymakers, business leaders and international experts to map the next decade of halal growth-one that balances profit with principles and commerce with conscience.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz emphasised that credibility remains the actual currency of global trade, and halal sits at its heart.

HALAL’ S NEXT CHAPTER

“ Halal is no longer confined to kitchens or restaurants,” said Zahid.“ It shapes the medicines we consume, the fashion we wear, the logistics that move our goods, and the finance that sustains our economies.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Malaysia’ s halal exports had reached US $ 7 billion in the first half of 2025— making up 16.1 per cent of the nation’ s exports— with strong demand from China, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and the United States.

He credited the country’ s progress to a collaborative ecosystem of regulators, corporations, SMEs and scholars who uphold

PIONEERING THE NEXT PHASE: Panellists at the“ Advancing Halal Ecosystem: What’ s Next?” session discuss how the halal industry can expand beyond food into finance, pharmaceuticals and logistics through stronger collaboration and innovation.

Malaysia’ s halal standards. Today, more than 10,000 halal-certified companies form the backbone of this thriving ecosystem.

Looking forward, Zahid said Malaysia’ s next step is to deepen the integration of halal and Islamic finance, forming an inclusive Halal – Islamic Finance Economy valued between US $ 8 trillion and US $ 10 trillion.

“ Malaysia’ s leadership in halal comes with responsibility— to not only regulate and certify but also champion innovation, investment and internationalisation,” he said, adding that the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 remains the nation’ s roadmap for growth.

HALAL VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The conference also hosted two high-level panel sessions that sparked rich dialogue among global industry leaders. The first,“ Captains of Industry – Advancing Global Partnerships for the Halal Economy”, brought together senior executives from Duopharma Biotech, Dutch Lady Milk Industries, and Hong Leong Islamic Bank.

Moderated by Astro Awani’ s Luqman Hariz, the session examined how cross-industry collaboration and digital innovation could drive sustainability and expand market access for halal enterprises.

The second panel,“ Advancing Halal Ecosystem: What’ s Next?” delved into the future of policy alignment and international cooperation. Featuring leaders from Uruguay, Zambia, and the Islamic Development Bank, the discussion— moderated by Halal Development Corporation( HDC) Head of Halal Consultancy and Advisory, Dhaliff G. Anuar— focused on building a more inclusive and resilient halal economy across borders.

Beyond the discussions, the conference also underscored Malaysia’ s role in shaping regional and global cooperation through initiatives such as the proposed ASEAN Halal Council and the World Halal Development Council( WHDC)— both aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration and trade linkages.

Closing his remarks, Zahid reminded delegates that halal is not just an economic driver but a moral compass.“ We must ensure that halal is not only a mark of compliance, but a standard of excellence— a bridge between communities and a model of fairness.”

In the spirit of MIHAS 2025, WHBC served as both a reflection and a call to action— reaffirming Malaysia’ s resolve to lead with integrity, drive innovation, and chart a sustainable future for the global halal economy.-

Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz