HDC To Strengthen International Cooperation, Advance Malaysia-Palestine Halal Trade
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC) will work with local business associations and Palestine’s standards body agency to strengthen institutional linkages and facilitate business connections between Malaysia and Palestine.
In a statement today, HDC said the cooperation will involve the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), Palestine Standards Institution (PSI) and relevant government agencies.
“Further engagement will focus on market-entry requirements, potential buyers and distributors as well as suitable platforms for business matching, particularly through its Halal Integrated Platform (HIP),” it said.
HDC chairman Mohd Afandi Salleh said trade can complement humanitarian assistance by helping Palestinian enterprises sustain their operations and livelihoods.
“Our focus is on cooperation that delivers tangible business opportunities while upholding Malaysia’s halal and regulatory requirements,” he said.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) recently recognised that PSI is a Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Body.
Mohd Afandi believes this recognition will strengthen halal products and services trade cooperation and help Palestinian producers understand Malaysia’s halal market requirements, connect with buyers and distributors, and prepare their products for market entry.
The recognition covers eligible products across categories including food and beverages, raw materials, cosmetics, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, subject to applicable requirements.
According to HDC, Malaysia’s halal exports reached RM68.52 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.9 per cent year-on-year.
Food and beverages contributed RM36.86 billion, or 53.8 per cent, followed by halal ingredients at RM21.39 billion, or 31.2 per cent.
The agency added that the scale of these sectors provides a basis for exploring cooperation in product sourcing, ingredients and supply-chain linkages.
-- BERNAMA