Indonesia-Malaysia Organize Collaboration Meeting in Advancing ASEAN Halal Cooperation

Jakarta: Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have chaired the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Industry Collaboration Roundtable in Jakarta today. This an important platform that reflects our shared commitment to fostering regional cooperation and driving inclusive growth in the global halal economy.

The Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), continues its mission to strengthen Malaysia’s footprint in the Halal industry by organizing the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Industry Collaboration Roundtable. The high-level meeting, held in Jakarta, is a significant effort in advancing ASEAN Halal cooperation.

It brought together key stakeholders from Malaysia and Indonesia to explore strategic avenues for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and supply chain integration within the Halal economy.

“The Roundtable Dialogue emphasized Malaysia’s globally recognized halal ecosystem and its crucial role as ASEAN Chair in 2025. Malaysia is advancing a cooperative halal agenda that balances economic opportunity with values-based trade, showing the region’s growing influence in shaping the global halal landscape,” said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid.

“The importance of collaborative efforts among the ASEAN members to strengthen regional connectivity and elevate Southeast Asia’s position in the global halal economy. Malaysia-Indonesia Collaboration Malaysia and Indonesia share a long-standing partnership in the halal sector, steered by mutual objectives to complement standards and enhance trade flows,” added Deputy Ahmad Zahid.

In June 2023, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) and Indonesia’s Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) signed a cooperation agreement on mutual recognition of halal certificates. This agreement has streamlined market access by eliminating redundant certification processes, simplifying cross-border trade for certified products in both countries.

Beyond formal agreements, institutional collaborations such as the Malaysia–Indonesia Halal Forum & Industry Engagement in 2023 have further cemented ties, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Both nations also work closely through multilateral platforms like the ASEAN Working Group on Halal Food (AWGAF) and the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPEAGA), reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing the regional halal economy.

With the goal to expand Malaysian SMEs’ presence in international markets, particularly Indonesia, HDC also participated in the Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2024, 15 Malaysian SMEs secured a total sales potential of RM62.57 million through B2B meetings and walk-in interactions. By November 2024, three companies had achieved actual sales of RM575,329.62 in Indonesia— emphasizing the strong demand for Malaysian halal products and the critical role of bilateral collaboration in driving market success.

Trade figures show the significance of Malaysia-Indonesia economic ties in the halal industry. Between 2021 and 2023, Malaysia exported RM7.77 billion worth of halalcertified products to Indonesia. In 2023 alone, exports totalled RM2.91 billion, with key contributions from the Food & Beverages sector (63.8%), Halal Ingredients (27%), and Cosmetics & Personal Care (6.6%).

While a slight decline was observed compared to 2022, this highlights opportunities for addressing regulatory barriers and enhancing supply chain efficiency through strategic dialogue. HDC’s commitment in strengthening Malaysia-Indonesia Halal cooperation through Halal Diplomacy.

The importance of collaboration among ASEAN countries to build a robust halal ecosystem and tap into the projected US$5 trillion global halal market by 2030. The roundtable meeting featured participation from prominent entities including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), BPJPH, Komite Nasional Ekonomi dan Keuangan Syariah (KNEKS), and Kamar Dagang dan Industri Indonesia (KADIN).

Also present at the session were organisations such as PT Makmur Berkad Amanda TBK - Industry (Halal industrial Park), PT. Toya Konsep Alam and Duopharma Biotech Berhad. Discussions centred on addressing trade-related challenges, identifying investment opportunities, and fostering joint ventures between Malaysian and Indonesian enterprises. The session emphasized actionable strategies to sustain and grow bilateral trade flows while capitalizing on each country’s comparative advantages.

This roundtable meeting sets a strong foundation for deeper collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia as they continue to spearhead the global halal economy.

By leveraging shared strengths and aligning policy frameworks under initiatives like Malaysia’s Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP 2030) and Indonesia’s halal economy roadmap, both nations are prepared to drive inclusive growth and create complementing value for their respective Halal economies.