Global Halal Summit 2023: Malaysia’s Strategy to Elevate Halal Standing

KUALA LUMPUR, 10th September 2023 – The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has officially announced its week-long Global Halal Summit (GHaS) 2023, which will commence from 9th to 15th September. The summit is a result of a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), along with key players including the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), and the Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM).

A key highlight of the summit is the 13th Halal Certification Bodies Convention (HCBC), slated from September 9 to 11 at the Pullman Hotel KLCC. This gathering will serve as a linchpin for annual meetings between JAKIM and recognized International Certification Bodies (CB), a tradition dating back to 2006. Impressively, JAKIM now recognizes 84 CBs from 47 countries responsible for verifying the halal status of various products bound for Malaysian shores.

Participation from international delegations is significant. Along with JAKIM Recognised International Halal Certification Bodies, representatives from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Indonesia’s Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) will be in attendance. Both of these prominent bodies have recently formalized a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Malaysian government, thereby facilitating mutual recognition of domestic products certified by their respective nations.

The Global Halal Summit 2023 isn’t restricted to conventions. The debut of the Global Halal Industry Congress (GHIC) is set to offer insights into the intricacies of halal management across countries. Additionally, the Halal Technical Committee Meeting, an integral part of the MABIMS – the annual meeting of religious ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore – will be conducted for the first time at GHaS 2023.

The summit promises a comprehensive exchange of knowledge, featuring 17 renowned presenters and 4 forum panelists discussing contemporary halal affairs, challenges, trade barriers, and integrity concerns.

Meanwhile, from 12th to 15th September, MITI is all set to host other pivotal events at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) including the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) by MATRADE, a Halal Profession Seminar by JSM, and the Halal Sectoral Forum by HDC.

The summit will reach its zenith when the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, takes the stage to inaugurate GHaS 2023 on 12th September.

In her statement, Datuk Hajah Hakimah Binti Mohd Yusoff, the Director General of JAKIM, emphasized the summit’s objective to foster unity among Malaysia’s halal certification bodies. She expressed hope that such collective efforts would underscore Malaysia’s stature as a global halal leader, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to the industry.

This summit is viewed by many as a significant leap in Malaysia’s ongoing mission to champion the global halal industry.