Kuala lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has extended a warm invitation to New Zealand to join the soon-to-be-established ASEAN Halal Council, highlighting Malaysia’s commitment to enhancing regional cooperation in the burgeoning global halal industry.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized at the Halal Diplomacy event in New Zealand that the halal sector transcends religious boundaries, embodying universal principles of trust, transparency, and accountability that unite nations. He acknowledged New Zealand’s interest in joining the ASEAN Halal Council, a platform poised to harmonize standards and bolster global competitiveness.

Ahmad Zahid explained that halal standards signify quality, safety, and integrity across various sectors, including food and beverage, banking, insurance, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. He shared that Malaysia, through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Malaysian Halal Council, is internationally recognized for its robust halal certification system, serving as a global benchmark.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted the longstanding cooperation between Malaysia and New Zealand in halal assurance, mentioning that all chicken products from New Zealand are halal-certified with full government backing. This collaboration has fostered strong trade relations, with Malaysian consumers warmly receiving halal products from New Zealand.

Further, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the importance of the Halal Implementation Arrangement (HIA) as a cornerstone of Malaysia-New Zealand cooperation, providing a framework to streamline certification processes and reinforce the integrity of halal supply chains.

He emphasized the vast potential of the nearly 700 million-strong ASEAN market and expressed Malaysia’s aspiration to become the halal gateway to ASEAN, with New Zealand as a trusted partner. Ahmad Zahid urged New Zealand to view Malaysia as a strategic partner in both halal industry development and broader collaborations addressing regional and global challenges.

The event also witnessed the exchange of notes on the HIA between JAKIM director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee and New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia Mike Walsh, further solidifying the partnership.