{
  "id": 9729913,
  "title": "Zahid: Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council established, first meeting in October",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/zahid-malaysia-indonesia-halal-council-established-first-meeting-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T08:11:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1540980/zahid-malaysia-indonesia-halal-council-established-first-meeting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia has established the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council to enhance halal diplomacy with Indonesia, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The council will be led by Indonesia's BPJPH, with Malaysia serving as its secretary-general. The inaugural meeting is scheduled for October.\n\nThe primary objective of the council is to streamline halal trade between the two nations by facilitating certification processes. Both countries have signed a memorandum of cooperation since 2023, and official negotiations concluded in June this year.\n\nZahid explained that Malaysia boasts expertise in standards, governance, Islamic finance, and trade facilitation, while Indonesia offers advantages in scale, production capacity, and entrepreneurship. The overarching goal is to leverage existing trust to open markets, attract investments, and foster collaborative opportunities.\n\nThe Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council aims to reduce barriers, ease market access, and encourage more companies to engage in cross-border trade. Small-scale producers require clearer pathways to find overseas buyers, while certified companies should receive support to fulfill their initial export orders.\n\nAccording to Zahid, halal exports from Malaysia are projected to reach RM80 billion by 2030. Currently, only 14.7% of halal-certified companies in Malaysia are exporters. To achieve these targets, Zahid emphasized the need to assist more companies in competing overseas, which involves consistent production, appropriate packaging, adequate working capital, reliable logistics, and market understanding.\n\nIn a related development, Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) 2026 attracted potential sales worth US$1.2 billion during its first two days. Organized by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and managed by Matrade, the annual event took place from September 23 to 26, 2026. Zahid expressed optimism that sales and potential sales would continue to rise until the showcase concludes, describing it as a global halal exhibition brand.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has announced the establishment of the Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council to strengthen halal diplomacy between the two countries.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia establishes Malaysia-Indonesia Halal Council to boost halal trade.",
    "Council to be led by Indonesia's BPJPH, with Malaysia as secretary-general.",
    "Inaugural meeting scheduled for October."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}