The Halal Development Corporation (HDC), a key agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), continues to spearhead Malaysia’s Halal industry by expanding market opportunities globally. HDC recently marked a triumphant presence at the Saudi Food Show held in Riyadh from 21 to 23 May 2024.
During the trade show, HDC reaffirmed Malaysia’s position as a global leader in the Halal sector through an engaging showcase of diverse products and services. Visitors engaged with HDC representatives, explored cutting-edge trends, and discovered lucrative trade and investment prospects under the Halal Malaysia branding. The HDC Pavilion hosted 15 Malaysian halal companies and export-ready companies, attracting significant attention from industry professionals, investors, and potential partners.
Highlighting the event was the esteemed visit of His Excellency YBhg. Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to Saudi Arabia, who was present at the HDC Pavilion and interacted with Malaysian companies.
HDC achieved outstanding outcomes, including 59 pre-arranged B2B meetings and over 100 walk-ins, culminating in promising engagements with more than 110 global buyers. These interactions are projected to generate approximately MYR 208.7 million over three days.
Testimonials from exhibitors featured the success of the event: Ms. Yeggy Ong, Director of Culvita Sdn Bhd, praised the seamless B2B facilitation platform; Mr. Chan Meng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of The Vida World Malaysia, received substantial interest from potential Middle Eastern distributors; and Mr. Asfar bin Maleeq, Managing Director of Bin Malek Global Sdn Bhd, lauded the show’s high-quality leads.
HDC is now preparing for its next major engagement at Food & Hospitality Indonesia 2024, scheduled from 23 to 26 July 2024 at the Jakarta International Expo. This prestigious event, now in its 18th edition, will feature over 500 exhibitors from 20 countries, showcasing products across food, beverages, and hospitality sectors.
Chief Executive Officer of HDC, Hairol Ariffein Sahari remarked, “We look forward to showcasing Malaysia’s Halal capabilities once again at Food & Hospitality Indonesia 2024 on the 30 August to 1 September 2024 in Jakarta. Our participation shows our commitment to expanding Malaysia’s Halal footprint in Indonesia and beyond.”
Building on past successes in Saudi Arabia, HDC aims to replicate its achievements from FHI 2022, where 12 Malaysian halal companies were prominently featured under the HDC Pavilion. Positioned prominently, HDC Pavilion will showcase 15 Malaysian halal companies poised to explore opportunities with Indonesian business communities. This strategic initiative aims to bolster the presence of Malaysian Halal enterprises in Indonesia and the broader ASEAN region, responding to the substantial demand for Halal products and services in Indonesia’s sizable Muslim population.
As the world’s most Muslim-populated country, Indonesia has been recognized as a strong anchor within the global Halal F&B market. Among all other members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Indonesia is the largest exporter (USD 7.83bil) and second largest importer (USD 17.54bil) of Halal food in 2020.
For more information on HDC’s initiatives and participation, visit www.hdcglobal.com
