September-October. 2026 | @ Halal

MIHAS 2026

GLOBAL REACH: Asnor Vidya Nor Azmi outlines MATRADE’ s efforts to help womenled businesses overcome barriers and expand into international markets.

� MATRADE is positioning women exporters as contributors to Malaysia’ s RM80 billion halal export target by 2030.

� The WiEX Pavilion gives womenled businesses dedicated visibility before international buyers.

� The longer-term aim is to develop resilient women-led exporters capable of anchoring global supply chains.

Becoming an exporter involves challenges beyond finding overseas buyers. Financing, regulations, digital capabilities, market intelligence and trade networks can affect women entrepreneurs’ ability to scale.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation’ s( MATRADE) Customised Programme and Digital Trade Section Director Asnor Vidya Nor Azmi said:“ The most prominent hurdle is the financial pressure involved in scaling up for cross-border operations.”

She added that foreign markets require upfront capital for testing, packaging, logistics, and regulatory compliance.

“ Transitioning from local e-commerce to international crossborder B2B digital trade requires advanced digital skills, supply chain management expertise, and realtime market data that many small enterprises simply lack.”

CLOSING MARKET GAPS Traditional trade networks can be difficult for female founders to penetrate, particularly when gaining exposure to global buyers requires dedicated access.

For lean or micro-SMEs, capacity is another constraint. Founders may oversee production, marketing and human resources, leaving little time for export procedures or overseas missions.

MATRADE has responded with programmes that build visibility, expand buyer access, and strengthen capability. WiEX @ MIHAS provides exhibition space, business matching and workshops.

Meanwhile, the International Sourcing Programme( INSP), supported by the AI-driven MADANI Digital Trade Platform( MDTP), links Malaysian exporters with international buyers.

“ At MATRADE, we view empowering women-owned and women-led SMEs as a vital economic priority rather than just a social goal,” Asnor said, adding that WiEX @ MIHAS provides business matching, workshops and exhibition spaces.

At MIHAS last year, the initiative connected 600 Malaysian exporters with 300 global buyers through 4,000 meetings, generating RM3.63 billion in potential sourcing value. The Hosted Buyers’ Programme recorded RM530 million.

FROM VISIBILITY DEALS“ The strength of the WiEX initiative lies in how these four elements connect to form a complete growth funnel, moving women entrepreneurs from initial exposure to international deals, knowledge-building and industry credibility.”

The WiEX Pavilion gives womenled businesses a platform to present products internationally. INSP adds pre-arranged matching with vetted buyers, creating procurement opportunities.

The WiEX Forum covers changing markets, digital tools, artificial intelligence, cross-border compliance and sustainable scaling. The Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita recognises women exporters for product excellence, innovation, sustainability and digitalisation.

“ Digital transformation is the fastest way for women-led SMEs to bypass traditional export barriers and access global buyers 24 / 7,” she said, highlighting MDTP as MATRADE’ s primary vehicle for expanding digital

VISIBILITY BUYER ACCESS KNOWLEDGE CREDIBILITY

INTERNATIONAL

WiEX PAVILLION SOURCING WiEX FORUM

ANUGERAH WIRA

PROGRAMME( INSP) EKONOMI WANITA

AI-driven, pre-arranged Knowledge-sharing on B2B business matching changing trade dynamics, connects women

AI and digital tools, entrepreneurs with vetted cross-border compliance global buyers. and sustainable scaling. and digitalisation.

Dedicated exhibition space for women-led businesses to showcase their products and services to an international audience.

IN ACTION

FROM VISIBILITY TO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY

THE INTENDED OUTCOME

INTERNATIONAL DEALS STRONGER CAPABILITIES LONG-TERM CREDIBILITY

600

MALAYSIAN EXPORTERS

300

GLOBAL BUYERS

4,000 CURATED BUSINESS MEETINGS

Recognition for women exporters across product excellence, services, innovation, sustainability

Moving women entrepreneurs from initial exposure to tangible international deals, knowledge-building and long-term industry credibility.

RM3.63 BILLION POTENTIAL SOURCING VALUE access.

MDTP offers B2B matchmaking and virtual exhibition spaces, helping exporters reach international buyers without relying entirely on overseas travel.

MATRADE also supports exporters through WEDP, Virtual INSP and the MIHAS Knowledge Hub. During MIHAS 2025, digital matching connected 600 Malaysian exporters with 300 international buyers, generating RM3.63 billion in potential sourcing value across 4,000 meetings.

“ Digital discoverability is no longer optional; it is the bedrock of cross-border credibility,” Asnor said, pointing to the Women Exporters eDirectory for continuous digital profiling among international buyers.

BUILDING GLOBAL ANCHORS Over the next three to five years, MATRADE aims to encourage women-led enterprises into highervalue areas such as technology-driven halal logistics, green biotechnology, advanced services and sustainable consumer goods.

“ We want to see a fundamental shift in Malaysia’ s trade ecosystem, moving from simply increasing the number of women-owned businesses to building high-value, resilient, and sustainable global exporters.”

Its support will include the threeyear WEDP pathway, wider integration of MDTP and the Women Exporters eDirectory, and continued use of MIHAS, WiEX and INSP to connect businesses with distributors, financing and sourcing opportunities.

The goal is to turn digital visibility into sustained export relationships, giving Malaysian women entrepreneurs the capabilities and connections to compete internationally and contribute to Malaysia’ s halal trade ambitions.