Malaysia Ready to Support Vietnam’s Halal Industry and Promote ASEAN Halal Council Initiative

As part of his working visit to attend the 21st Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2025) from September 17–20 in Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà of Vietnam held talks on September 19 with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà congratulated Malaysia on its impressive socio-economic achievements, noting its recognition among the world’s top 27 most competitive economies. He expressed satisfaction at the positive developments in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia, highlighted by recent high-level exchanges, including the official visit of General Secretary Tô Lâm in November 2024, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit in May 2025, and the ongoing visit of National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn to Malaysia for the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà praised Malaysia’s world-leading Halal ecosystem and commended the successful organization of MIHAS 2025, which has become a global platform for Halal businesses to showcase products and connect with potential partners. He stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with Malaysia, particularly in the Halal industry – an area that has been identified by both sides as a priority in the Joint Statement on elevating bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Looking ahead, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà proposed closer cooperation in the Halal sector, focusing on:

• Concluding mutual recognition agreements on Halal certification.
• Sharing expertise in Halal ecosystem development, training, and technical assistance.
• Promoting Halal agricultural trade, especially by enhancing access for Vietnamese Halal products to the Malaysian market.
• Exploring Halal investment cooperation, including Malaysian enterprises investing in Halal processing in Vietnam for export to Muslim-majority markets.
  He also suggested that Malaysia support Vietnam in studying the establishment of Halal industrial parks.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reaffirmed Malaysia’s readiness to assist Vietnam in developing its Halal industry and encouraged Vietnam to support and participate in the ASEAN Halal Council initiative. He also emphasized the importance of boosting bilateral economic and trade cooperation, facilitating exports of key products such as seafood, agriculture, and food, while expanding collaboration in agriculture, energy, oil and gas, and regional electricity connectivity. He further highlighted opportunities for joint work in the digital economy, circular economy, and green growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi welcomed Vietnam’s proposals and committed to instructing relevant Malaysian ministries and agencies to coordinate with their Vietnamese counterparts for early and practical implementation. He affirmed that this cooperation would contribute to realizing the full potential of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

On this occasion, the two Deputy Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, reaffirming their commitment to promoting ASEAN solidarity, centrality, and deeper regional cooperation