Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah Branch reaffirmed its strategic partnership with the World Halalprenuer Council (WHC), focusing on positioning Sabah as the gateway to the China-Malaysia halal ecosystem and transforming the State into an international halal hub.
MCCC Sabah President Datuk Dexter Lau said both parties recently met and agreed to translate their previous strategic engagement into concrete, collaborative frameworks.
“We will specifically focus on bilateral halal trade, education, leadership in publications and the joint organisation of high-profile and documentation initiatives,” he said, in a statement, Friday.
Lau said the chamber had appointed four committee members – First Vice President Jacky Chin, Treasurer Shawn Tan, committee member Lanice Ng and Dr Gloria Chang – as the working committee for the WHC Sabah Chapter.
He expressed confidence that their appointments, along with MCCC Sabah’s involvement, would greatly benefit chamber members by offering exposure and expanding visibility on the international stage through WHC’s global events, publications and digital platforms.
The strategic collaboration will also serve as a bridge for bilateral halal trade and investment opportunities, particularly for halalpreneurs and women entrepreneurs from China and Malaysia, especially in Sabah.
Lau is confident in Sabah’s strong potential to become the international halal hub for Southeast Asia, given its strategic location and access to fast-growing markets with large Muslim populations in the region.
“With continued support and encouragement from the Government in promoting international trade and investment, we believe it won’t be long before our objectives materialise, and Sabah’s halal trade and investment can be elevated to a new level,” he added.
According to the Global Islamic Economy Index, the global halal economy is projected to reach a market value of USD7.7 trillion by 2025 – up from USD3.2 trillion in 2015 – driven by increasing demand for Shariah-compliant investments and products.
Malaysia remains a global leader in the halal industry, which contributes nearly 10 per cent to the nation’s GDP. The sector is expected to grow further, with halal exports valued at billions of ringgit, as the country continues to lead in halal innovation, exploring areas such as AI-driven supply chain platforms and plant-based pharmaceuticals.
The largest component of Malaysia’s halal economy is the food services sector, which generated approximately USD31 billion (RM128.8 billion) in revenue in 2021. This figure is forecast to rise to USD47.6 billion (RM201.02 billion) by 2025.
