Kuala Lumpur: Several ASEAN countries, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and China have expressed interest in collaborating with Malaysia to share experiences in the halal industry. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz highlighted Malaysia’s role as a leader in the halal industry as a key reason for this interest.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul emphasized that these countries are keen to learn from Malaysia’s experiences and address technical issues related to the halal industry. This collaboration is not limited to food and beverage but extends to logistics, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors, highlighting the industry’s potential to boost the income of both Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

Tengku Zafrul also mentioned the importance of Malaysia’s participation in new economic blocs to tackle global geopolitical and economic challenges. He noted that Malaysia and the GCC have announced the commencement of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and are exploring engagement in new sectors with China.

Additionally, ASEAN has concluded discussions on the ASEAN-China FTA, introducing new chapters focused on the green economy, supply chain, and digital economy. Tengku Zafrul welcomed the joint statement by ASEAN, GCC, and China, which reiterated their commitment to enhancing trade and investment relations and included in-depth discussions on the green economy, digital economy, and halal industry.

He further noted that there is a significant interest in developing the halal industry between ASEAN and GCC countries, alongside the digital and green economies.