Bangladesh seeks to expand halal trade with Malaysia: Envoy

Dhaka has called for expanding halal trade and business cooperation with Malaysia, as Bangladesh participated for the second time in the "Malacca International Halal Festival 2025" held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Malaysia's historic Malacca state from 16 to 19 October.

Speaking at the event, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury underscored Bangladesh's keen interest in deepening halal trade partnership between the two friendly nations, according to a message received here today. 

He sought cooperation of the Chief Minister of Malacca, YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf bin Yusoh, in expanding halal trade between Bangladesh and Malaysia and expressed optimism that more Bangladeshi companies would participate in future editions of the festival.

"Bangladesh looks forward to enhancing halal trade with Malaysia and expanding the market for Bangladeshi products in the ASEAN region," the envoy said while briefing the guests during their visit to the Bangladesh pavilion.

He also highlighted Bangladesh's diverse range of exportable products, including ready-made garments, jute and leather goods, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and food and beverage items, which have strong export potential in Malaysia and the wider ASEAN market.

The High Commissioner presented the Malacca Chief Minister with a selection of Bangladeshi products as souvenirs and reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to promoting halal-certified goods and strengthening trade relations through mutual collaboration and participation in trade fairs.

The four-day festival, organized for the second time by the Melaka Islamic Religion Council (MAIM) under the patronage of the Malacca State Government, featured 400 exhibition booths across nine clusters, including food and beverage, halal fashion, and halal tourism.

Exhibitors from eight countries—Bangladesh, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Iran, Taiwan, and Malaysia—took part in the event.

The festival was formally inaugurated on 18 October by Chief Minister YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf bin Yusoh. 

Distinguished guests included Senator Dato' Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Na'im bin Haji Mokhtar, Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs); delegations from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore; and senior officials of the Malacca State Cabinet and Malaysian government departments.

With the support of the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Bangladesh was represented by the country's leading food and beverage conglomerate PRAN, which showcased a wide range of halal-certified food and drink products at its booth.

Bangladesh's participation in the Malacca Halal Festival would further strengthen its presence in Malaysia's growing halal market and create new business opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters beyond Kuala Lumpur.

The High Commission has been actively working to expand the market for Bangladeshi products in Malaysia through participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, and promotional campaigns across multiple states.

In 2025 alone, Bangladesh has participated in four international trade fairs in Malaysia, as part of its effort to enhance the visibility of Bangladeshi products and services in the ASEAN region.

The Bangladesh pavilion also showcased information about the upcoming Global Sourcing Expo 2025, scheduled to be held in Dhaka in December, along with publications and video presentations on export, investment, and tourism opportunities in Bangladesh.

Throughout the festival, a large number of business representatives, distributors, and visitors visited the Bangladesh booth, showing keen interest in Bangladeshi products and exploring potential collaborations in the halal sector.

The Malacca International Halal Festival serves as a vital platform for promoting halal-certified products and services, strengthening regional trade, and fostering collaboration between Muslim-majority countries.