KUALA LUMPUR: Halal Development Corp Bhd (HDC) anticipates a substantial surge in trade between Malaysia and Japan in 2024 and beyond, says chairman Khairul Azwan Harun.
In a statement yesterday, Khairul Azwan said political stability, a conducive investor environment, technological innovation in the halal supply chain and Osaka’s World Expo 2025 are among the key factors that would contribute to the growth.
“We have observed a remarkable rise in halal awareness among consumers and businesses, particularly in sectors such as food and beverage, cosmetics and tourism. Malaysia’s political stability and investor-friendly halal ecosystem and our commitment to gold standards in halal certification sets a strong foundation for robust trade relations between the two nations,” he said.
Khairul Azwan said Malaysia’s total exports amounted to RM59.46bil in 2022, with halal exports to Japan reaching RM3.6bil, the highest since 2018 despite global economic uncertainty.
The adoption of technology and innovation is enhancing the halal supply chain, ensuring quality, efficiency and transparency in Malaysia, he added.
HDC noted that Osaka’s World Expo 2025 presents a significant opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s halal excellence on the global stage, further strengthening Malaysia-Japan bilateral trade ties.
HDC encourages Malaysian businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, to venture into the halal market, which involves exporting Malaysian products to Japan and also positioning Malaysia as a halal hub for Japanese companies seeking to tap into the global market.
“By collaborating with Malaysia, Japanese companies can leverage expertise and resources to enter this market more effectively, expand their customer base and diversify their revenue streams,” HDC said. — Bernama
