Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and New Zealand have agreed to deepen cooperation in the global halal industry through several strategic measures, including the alignment of certification standards, joint research efforts, and the enhancement of halal assurance frameworks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, currently on a working visit to New Zealand, emphasized the importance of this collaboration to uphold the integrity and international marketability of halal products amid rising global demand from Muslim consumers. During the Halal Forum and High Tea with New Zealand Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety Andrew Hoggard, Zahid highlighted the significance of the event in exploring new opportunities to strengthen the halal ecosystem through inclusive and complementary approaches.

The event, held at the National Library of New Zealand, saw participation from senior representatives from industry and government agencies of both countries. Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH), noted Malaysia’s planned participation in Fieldays 2025, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural exhibition, as a commitment to expanding international engagement in agriculture and the halal sector.

In his speech, Ahmad Zahid acknowledged New Zealand’s two recognized halal certification bodies, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and the New Zealand Islamic Development Trust (NZIDT), for their efforts to ensure compliance with halal standards aligned with Malaysian requirements. He stated that the collaboration extends beyond technical alignment, symbolizing mutual respect for religious and cultural values in the global trade ecosystem.

Ahmad Zahid also invited New Zealand companies and agencies to participate in the upcoming Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) as part of efforts to boost bilateral trade in the halal sector. Meanwhile, Hoggard reported that Malaysia remains a significant market for New Zealand’s halal meat exports, which exceeded NZ$60 million last year.

Hoggard highlighted Malaysia’s facilitation of the approval process for several halal meat premises in New Zealand seeking first-time market access as a critical step toward expanding halal exports. With a population of over 35 million, Hoggard noted that the Malaysian market offers strong growth potential. He added that the revised halal export requirements provide greater clarity for New Zealand producers in areas such as registration, processing, documentation, packaging, and storage.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, is on a five-day working visit to New Zealand, which concludes on Friday.