WORLD HALAL AWARDS PUT MALAYSIA ON FIRM FOOTING TO REAP GLOBAL US$5 TRILLION MARKET -- HDC

MELAKA, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The Halal Development Corporation Bhd’s (HDC) World Halal Excellence Awards 2023 (WHEA 2023), now in its 15th year, complements Malaysia’s halal industry ecosystem, and puts it in a strong position to reap the global halal market opportunities, estimated to reach US$5 trillion by 2030. 

"Held as part of HDC’s World Halal Business Conference (WHBC), WHEA 2023 also aims to celebrate and honour achievements by halal industry players, reinforcing Malaysia's position as a global leader in the US$3 trillion halal market,” HDC said in a statement here today. 

Since its inception in 2009, HDC has given awards to over 250 individuals, organisations and companies, the statement said.

The awards were presented by the Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. 

Tengku Zafrul said in the statement that a robust halal ecosystem was critical, as underscored by the progressive measures under Budget 2025.

He noted that halal exports surged to an impressive RM54 billion in 2023. His ministry and its agencies have actively expanded the halal market for exporters, for example, by securing potential trade deals worth RM2.65 billion from Pakistan.

It is also exploring potential collaboration with Canada which has a C$1 billion halal market and 1.15 million Muslims. 

"Our efforts on strategic cooperation, as well as industrial reform agenda have positioned Malaysia on a strong footing to meet the demand for halal products and services globally. 

"We will continue to build on our strengths while tracking closely the key performance indicators set out in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP2030) and Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP2030) to build a sustainable, resilient halal industry for Malaysia, especially for our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and our people," he said.

The top two categories are the Halal State Performance Excellence Award and the Halal Leadership Excellence Award.

Other award categories are Islamic Financial Excellence, Halal Prominent Brand Excellence, Halal Entrepreneur SME Excellence, Halal Logistics Excellence, Halal Technology & Innovation Excellence, Muslim-Friendly Healthcare Excellence, Halal International Business Excellence, Halal Pharmaceutical Excellence and Halal Franchise Excellence Award. 

WHEA introduced new categories this year including Halal Gourmet Food & Beverages Excellence, Muslim-Friendly Tourism Excellence, Islamic Content Creation, Halal Cosmetics Excellence, Halal Digital Platform Excellence, Halal International Relations, Women Entrepreneur Excellence, Youth Entrepreneur Excellence and Halal Industrial Park Excellence.

The awards recognise thirty organisations and a distinguished individual for their exceptional contributions to the halal industry. 

Leading the list was the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) director-general Hakimah Mohd Yusoff, whose leadership and commitment have significantly influenced the global halal ecosystem, including the development of Islamic affairs in Malaysia and governance of halal matters. 

Her efforts have elevated Malaysia’s status as a globally recognised reference centre for the halal industry, the statement said.

Hakimah also spearheaded key initiatives to enhance Malaysia’s halal certification, addressing critical challenges via strategic reengineering and improved management processes.

As Malaysia continues to establish itself as a global halal hub, states are also advancing their industries alongside the national halal economy.

This year’s Halal State Performance Excellence Award was presented to the Melaka state government in recognition of its outstanding initiatives that have promoted halal practices while spurring investment in the halal industry. 

Nominees underwent thorough management audits conducted by Deloitte Business Advisory Sdn Bhd ensuring selection standards met global levels. Over 200 entries were received this year.

Leveraging HDC’s existing offerings, WHEA 2023 winners received trophies and opportunities to participate in its various programmes such as the World Halal Business Conference Circuit. They also gain recognition within HDC’s global network as WHEA winners.

Meanwhile, award winner Zus Coffee chief operating officer Venon Tian said the award recognised the company’s commitment to the halal industry. The company started with 20 outlets in 2021.

“I am happy to have received this award because we have been committed to the halal industry since 2021. At that time, we had 20 outlets. Now we have 600 outlets but our commitment remains the same.

Zus Coffee won the Halal Digital Platform Excellence Award (Local Category). It has developed a dynamic digital platform to enhance customer engagement and convenience. 

The technology integration with halal principles positions Zus Coffee as a leader in Malaysia's coffee market while reflecting its dedication to quality and community values.

-- BERNAMA