Malaysia and Indonesia establish joint Halal Council

Malaysia and Indonesia have established the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council to strengthen bilateral trade and streamline halal certification processes. Announced by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the Global Halal Summit 2026, the council will be led by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), while Malaysia will serve as the secretary-general. The first meeting is scheduled for October 2026.

This initiative is part of a broader ‘halal diplomacy’ strategy aimed at reducing trade barriers and connecting small producers to regional supply chains. Malaysia has set a target to increase its halal exports to approximately RM80 billion by 2030. Additionally, Zahid proposed the formation of an ASEAN Halal Council by September 2027 to create a more structured regional framework.

Parallel to these diplomatic efforts, the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 is facilitating global industry connections, featuring 1,700 exhibitors from 58 countries. A new collaboration between MATRADE and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) called the Malaysia Halal Global Nexus (MyHGN) was also launched to support international certification recognition and guide global industries through Malaysia’s halal ecosystem.