Business

Vietnam eyes expanded exports to Halal markets via Malaysia gateway

Vietnam – Malaysia trade reached 14.2 billion USD in 2024. In the first half of 2025, bilateral trade increased 6% year-on-year to 7.7 billion USD.

Zaimah Osman, Malaysia’s Trade Consul in Ho Chi Minh City, discusses cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and Malaysian businesses in the Halal food sector. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)
Zaimah Osman, Malaysia’s Trade Consul in Ho Chi Minh City, discusses cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and Malaysian businesses in the Halal food sector. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

HCM City (VNA) - Vietnam is seeking to boost exports to Halal markets through Malaysia, which is viewed as a strategic gateway to the global market, heard a business forum in Ho Chi Minh City on August 7.

Vietnam – Malaysia trade reached 14.2 billion USD in 2024. In the first half of 2025, bilateral trade increased 6% year-on-year to 7.7 billion USD. Officials see significant room for growth, as Malaysia’s consumer culture is close to Vietnam’s and tariff barriers are low under ASEAN and CPTPP agreements.

The global Halal market is projected to hit 5 trillion USD by 2030, with Malaysia’s share expected at 113.2 billion USD, spanning food and beverages; cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals with 85.2 billion USD, 10.5 billion USD and 5.9 billion USD, respectively.

Malaysia’s trade promotion agency MATRADE highlighted its pro-business environment and invited Vietnamese firms to tap into its network of over 200 trading partners. Vietnam’s Halal industry is backed by a government strategy to 2030, aiming to make the country a trusted global Halal hub.

Experts urged Vietnam to pursue mutual recognition agreements with major Halal certifiers, develop dedicated Halal industrial zones and logistics hubs, digitise certification with blockchain, and create a national “Vietnam Halal Certified” brand. Human resource training and stronger university–industry links were also emphasised.

Maybank Malaysia's Halal Product Director Shariza Abdul Rasheed noted that Vietnam’s Halal Certification Agency has been officially recognised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), enabling easier access to Malaysia’s distribution system. She stressed that Halal certification signals global hygiene, ethics, and sustainability standards, not just religious compliance.

Businesses were encouraged to join key Halal trade events, including the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) from September 17–20, 2025, where the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre will organise a pavilion.

E-commerce platforms such as Malaysia’s Salaam Market and business matchmaking programmes were also recommended to connect Vietnamese producers with local partners, with the aim of raising Vietnam – Malaysia trade to 25 billion USD by 2030./.

VNA
#Vietnam #Malaysia #Halal market #Vietnam – Malaysia trade #Halal industry #e-commerce Malaysia Vietnam
Follow VietnamPlus

Post-pandemic recovery

Related News

Vietnamese goods at the International Halal Exhibition 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam to promote development of halal products and services

The draft decree states that Vietnamese halal certification organisations will be supported in improving their capacity, achieving international recognition and having their certification results accepted by different countries and territories, especially in target export markets.

See more

A refilling station of Petrolimex (Photo: VNA)

Import tariffs on certain fuel products reduced to 0%

Rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, have significantly affected the global energy market, especially shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz – a strategic route for transporting crude oil from the region.

Fishermen raise the national flag before heading out to the sea to affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Thap promotes IUU awareness from start of fishing season

Gia Thuan commune, located in the eastern part of the province, is a key fishing locality with 563 fishing vessels, including 423 offshore boats and 140 nearshore vessels, producing an average annual catch of over 42,970 tonnes of seafood.

Industrial production surges in the first two months of 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Industrial production posts strong growth in first two months

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance, the index of industrial production (IIP) in February was estimated to decrease 18.4% from the previous month but increase 1% year on year. Overall, in the January–February period, the IIP rose 10.4% compared with the same period last year.

A delegation from the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee inspects production and business activities at the VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Park. (Photo:nhandan.vn)

Nghe An steps up reforms to attract FDI

In 2025, the provincial People’s Committee licensed 25 new FDI projects and approved capital adjustments for 20 others, bringing the total newly registered and additional investment to more than 1 billion USD. Many large-scale projects in the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone have already become operational, contributing to export growth, state budget revenues and job creation.

Nearly 35,500 enterprises are newly registered nationwide, with total registered capital reaching nearly 313.7 trillion VND and more than 167,500 registered workers. (Photo: VNA)

Nearly 35,500 new businesses set up in first two months

The enterprises registered combined capital of about 313.7 trillion VND and more than 167,500 employees. Compared with the same period last year, the number of new businesses surged by 70.7%, while registered capital rose by 36.1% and registered labour increased by 19.1%.

The yarn factory of Unitex Textile and Dyeing Company Limited applies new technology to optimise operations using an automated model. (Photo: VNA)

Resolution 68: International lessons for private sector development

A common feature in many successful economies is a fundamental shift in the perception of private enterprises. In countries such as Singapore, Germany, Republic of Korea (RoK) and China, private firms are viewed not mainly as entities requiring strict control but as development partners and key forces generating growth, jobs and innovation.

The production line of Regza Electronics Vietnam Co., Ltd. located in Dong Nai province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s overseas investment rises 2.3-fold in first two months

During the period, 36 new overseas projects were granted investment certificates with total registered capital from Vietnamese investors reaching 532.4 million USD, up 2.3 times compared to the same period last year. In addition, three projects adjusted their capital with an additional 7.8 million USD, 1.5 times higher than a year earlier.

Workers of PTSC Thanh Hoa check the system for crude oil imports. Vietnam saw strong increase in fuel imports in the first two months of this year. (Photo" VNA)

Vietnam records strong increase in fuel imports in two months

Statistics of Vietnam Customs showed that Vietnam spent more than 1.44 billion USD importing 2.18 million tonnes of petroleum products in the first two months of this year, representing a sharp increase of 31.4% and 43%, respectively, over the same period last year.