Five International Cooperation Priorities to Develop Vietnam’s Halal Industry

Five International Cooperation Priorities to Develop the Halal Industry

In his opening remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian leaders emphasized the increasingly important role of the Halal industry in the global economy. They noted that Halal is emerging as a global trade norm, contributing to countering protectionism and conflict while opening opportunities for developing countries to integrate more deeply into global supply chains.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and leaders of other countries attend the opening plenary session of the Global Halal Conference (GHAS 2025) on the morning of September 19 - Photo: VGP

Malaysian leaders stressed that Malaysia is not only a supplier but also a standard-setter, system provider, and bridge for positioning Halal as a foundation for ethical, sustainable, and inclusive trade. They called for stronger South–South cooperation, including in the Halal sector, and for redefining Halal as a trade framework based on trust, transparency, and fairness, transcending geographical and religious boundaries.

Addressing delegates at the plenary session of GHAS 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà highlighted the significance of the Halal industry in the 21st century, noting that the global Halal economy is expected to reach USD 10 trillion by 2028. He highly appreciated the Malaysian Government’s initiative in organizing MIHAS, a forum that not only connects countries, businesses, and global partners to promote trade and investment in the Halal sector, but also advances sustainable and inclusive development, humanistic values, sustainability, and quality standards worldwide.

To position Halal as a “new bridge and new driving force” in Vietnam’s trade and investment cooperation with other countries and Muslim communities, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed five priority areas for international cooperation to develop Vietnam’s Halal industry:

1. Promoting negotiations, signing agreements, and mutual recognition of Halal certification;

2. Enhancing investment in Halal-related sectors such as agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and supporting industries;

3. Facilitating Halal certification for Vietnamese products to enable participation in global supply chains;

4. Sharing experience and providing legal, technical, training, and human resource support for the Halal industry;

5. Supporting the promotion and branding of Vietnamese products and services in the global Halal market.

Strong Potential for Vietnam–Malaysia Halal Cooperation

During MIHAS 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà held meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Religious Affairs.

At these meetings, the Deputy Prime Minister congratulated Malaysia on the successful organization of the international Halal exhibition and expressed Vietnam’s desire to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia through sharing policy-making experience, developing Halal industry strategies, building capacity for certification bodies and enterprises, promoting investment in production, developing Halal supply chains, and investing in Halal ecosystems and Halal industrial parks.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha held discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the opening plenary session of the Global Halal Conference (GHAS 2025) on the morning of September 19 - Photo: VGP

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that there is significant potential for bilateral cooperation in the Halal sector and assigned Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Halal affairs to work directly with Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà to further discuss specific cooperation plans.

The Malaysian Minister in charge of Religious Affairs announced plans to visit Vietnam in the near future to further promote Halal cooperation between the two countries.

During the event, the Deputy Prime Minister also visited booths of Vietnamese enterprises participating in MIHAS 2025. Nearly 30 Vietnamese companies in consumer goods, agricultural products, processed foods, handicrafts, cosmetics, and fashion took part in the exhibition.

He praised the participating enterprises and expressed confidence that this marked a positive starting point for Vietnamese businesses to penetrate the global Halal market more effectively.

Vietnamese enterprises noted that participation in MIHAS 2025 provided valuable access to the global Halal market, helping diversify export markets and partners while opening a new, stable, and sustainable growth pathway.

Hoang Phuong/ tapchicongthuong.vn

MIHAS is the world’s largest Halal exhibition, held annually in Malaysia since 2004. Since its inception, MIHAS has established itself as the world’s leading trade platform for the Halal industry. It is not only a forum that connects businesses, but also a driving force for growth and innovation in the global Halal economy. In 2024, MIHAS recorded transaction values reaching RM 4.3 billion (USD 1.02 billion).

MIHAS 2025, under the theme “The Pinnacle of Halal Excellence,” places a strong focus on innovation and sustainable development—key factors in ensuring stable growth, adaptability, and competitiveness of the Halal industry. Exhibition booths at MIHAS 2025 showcase and promote 14 key sectors, including food, beverages, Halal ingredients, fashion, media, entertainment, e-commerce, finance, cosmetics, and tourism. More than 2,300 booths from 45 countries participated in the MIHAS exhibition.