Libya Makes Its MIHAS Debut as Malaysia Looks to Expand Trade Links

KUALA LUMPUR — Libya has made its debut at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, bringing a national pavilion to the trade event for the first time as the two countries seek to build on a sharp increase in bilateral trade.

The Libya Pavilion was officially opened on Thursday by Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), during the 22nd edition of MIHAS at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

The arrival of the Libyan pavilion comes as commercial ties between Malaysia and Libya have gained momentum. Bilateral trade reached RM1.03 billion in 2025, an increase of 38.9 percent from the previous year, according to MATRADE.

Malaysian exports to Libya continued to grow this year. In the first eight months of 2026, exports rose 73.4 percent from the corresponding period a year earlier to RM106.5 million. Machinery, equipment and parts, chemicals and chemical products, and palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products were among the main Malaysian export categories.

The pavilion is jointly organised by the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and Libya’s General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences.

For Libya, the participation provides an opportunity to introduce its companies and products to Malaysian and international businesses while gaining exposure to Malaysia’s established halal trade infrastructure.

Essam Al-Aoul, chairman of Libya’s General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, said Libya was particularly interested in Malaysia’s experience in halal certification and in the system administered by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, known as JAKIM.

The interest reflects a broader effort by Libya to develop its own halal sector. Al-Aoul said the country’s Government of National Unity was working with relevant institutions to review regulations and policies that could support the development of the industry and strengthen recognition of Libyan products in international markets.

The MIHAS appearance follows earlier efforts to deepen commercial relations. In May 2024, MATRADE led an Export Acceleration Mission to Tripoli involving 10 Malaysian companies. The agency said the mission generated nearly RM250 million in business opportunities.

Malaysia also participated in the Tripoli International Fair earlier this year, helping maintain commercial engagement between the two countries ahead of Libya’s participation in MIHAS.

Reezal said the Libya Pavilion could provide opportunities for Malaysian and ASEAN companies seeking access to North African and Mediterranean markets, while giving Libyan businesses greater exposure to Southeast Asia.

The timing is significant for both sides. Malaysia has spent years building an export-oriented halal ecosystem around certification, manufacturing, trade and services, while Libya is seeking to develop its own capabilities and broaden the international market for its products.

MIHAS 2026 brings together 2,000 exhibitors from 58 countries, with MATRADE targeting RM5 billion in trade sales from the event.

For Libya, however, the immediate significance of its presence is more specific. Its first national participation gives Libyan businesses a place within an established international halal marketplace and gives Malaysian companies another avenue for exploring commercial opportunities in North Africa.

The longer-term measure of the initiative will be what follows the exhibition: whether the meetings held in Kuala Lumpur develop into export orders, distribution arrangements and broader business partnerships between companies in the two markets.