Shanghai: The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in Shanghai serves as a crucial platform for Malaysia to penetrate new markets while strategically promoting the country in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026. Malaysia’s Consul General in Shanghai, Shahafeez Shaharis, emphasized the significance of MIHASShanghai not only in achieving a sales target of RM2.5 billion but also in featuring a comprehensive 2,000 sq ft Malaysian Pavilion with 250 Malaysian companies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the showcase encompasses various key sectors, including food and beverages, agriculture, medical and healthcare equipment, as well as business and financial services. The event sees participation from federal agencies such as the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and its agency MARA, SME Corp, Exim Bank, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, and the Malaysian Pepper Board.
MIHASShanghai has also attracted involvement from several Malaysian state governments, including Perlis, Sarawak, Penang, Selangor, Perak, Sabah, Melaka, and Pahang. The event will be inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday. He will engage with key stakeholders in China’s halal industry, reinforcing Malaysia’s global leadership in the halal market and expanding the country’s international trade network.
The Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on Wednesday by invitation from the People’s Republic of China to attend the 8th China International Import Expo at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre. Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Halal Industry Development Council and the National TVET Council, will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Additionally, he will attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd Malaysia-China International Industry-TVET Education Cooperation Forum and the 4th Malaysia-China Vocational Education Fair, where he will deliver a keynote address.
Shahafeez noted that the event will also feature several collaborative agreements in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. These include a Letter of Intent for the SIYUAN Skill Advancement and Employment Programme, the launch of the Malaysia-China TVET Industry-Education Alliance, and an MoU to establish the Malaysia-China Satellite Training Programme. Ahmad Zahid is also expected to officiate at the CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd Information Centre and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia’s Pavilion.
China has maintained its position as Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, with the total trade between the two countries valued at RM484.12 billion in 2024, accounting for 16.8 per cent of Malaysia’s total global trade (RM2.879 trillion). In the halal sector, Malaysia’s halal exports reached RM61.79 billion in 2024, marking a 15 per cent increase from the previous year, with China being Malaysia’s second-largest halal export destination, valued at RM7.04 billion.
Shahafeez highlighted the immense potential of the global halal industry, currently valued at US$3.5 trillion and projected to grow to US$5 trillion by 2030.