Halal industry growth fuels cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

Indonesia's halal assurance agency, BPJPH, said the halal sector has become a strategic driver of economic growth, trade expansion, innovation and inclusive empowerment. Agency head Ahmad Haikal Hasan emphasized the need to strengthen the halal ecosystem through regional collaboration, citing the Indonesia‑Malaysia‑Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT‑GT) as a platform for joint government, business and academic efforts.

In Malaysia, Sarawak officials expressed confidence that the state can meet part of Southeast Asia's halal market demand by leveraging its land resources, infrastructure such as ports, airports and road networks, and processing facilities in industrial zones. The state highlighted cooperation with Malaysia's Islamic agencies and Indonesia's JAKIM to support halal certification and development.

Both statements underline a broader push to expand the halal industry across Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, aiming to boost regional trade, attract investment and enhance the competitiveness of halal products worldwide.