Kuala lumpur: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on higher education signed between Malaysia and Pakistan today will serve as a strategic platform to promote Malaysia's education brand globally, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. He emphasized that the cooperation outlined in the MoU covers multiple sectors, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), information technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence (AI).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MoU aims to facilitate various initiatives, such as student mobility programs and EduTourism. These programs offer Pakistani students the opportunity to experience Malaysia's education system firsthand and gain significant cross-cultural exposure, thereby fostering understanding, tolerance, and empathy across cultures. The MoU signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
Additionally, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar announced in a Facebook post that the MoU on halal certification marks a significant milestone in strengthening the halal ecosystem of both countries. He stated that this collaboration is expected to further enhance the halal ecosystem and expand the international market for halal products.
Mohd Na'im highlighted that the MoU focuses on the mutual recognition of halal certificates between the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA), thereby reinforcing Malaysia's halal integrity on a global scale. The agreement also includes efforts to develop a globally harmonized halal system in terms of standards and procedures, as well as to strengthen the sharing of expertise and knowledge in halal-related technology, human capital development, and research and development (R and D).
Prime Minister Shehbaz and his delegation arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Anwar.