Increasing efforts to position MARA entrepreneurs as stronger players in the international halal economy, with a new partnership expected to expand access to overseas retail markets.
The latest boost comes through a commitment by global retail chain Lulu Hypermarket to purchase and market halal products from Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) entrepreneurs, worth US$100 million (approximately RM470 million), for the international market, which begins Jul 1.
While the figure itself is significant, the bigger implication lies in the market access. Breaking into international shelves remains one of the largest barriers to entry, especially for small and medium halal businesses.
Through Lulu Hypermarket’s extensive presence, particularly across the Middle East, local entrepreneurs are expected to gain direct entry into markets that have traditionally been difficult to penetrate independently.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described the initiative as part of a wider strategy to elevate Bumiputera entrepreneurs’ participation in the global halal industry and support them beyond domestic demand into export-oriented growth.
Lulu Group owner Yusuff Ali conveyed the commitment during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and this comes as Malaysia continues to strengthen its position in the global halal market. This high-growth sector extends beyond food into lifestyle, services, and manufacturing.
Supported by rising international opportunities, Ahmad Zahid has also raised expectations for MARA’s global halal ambitions. He targeted more than RM1 billion in international halal sales potential next year.
The target builds on encouraging momentum, with MARA entrepreneurs already recording RM819 million in potential sales transactions on international platforms this year, displaying increasing readiness among local businesses to expand abroad.
To support this growth, the newly launched MARA Halal Ecosystem seeks to establish a more comprehensive support structure through training, certification, financing, and infrastructure to strengthen entrepreneur competitiveness.
As part of the effort, MARA aims to produce an additional 30 halal executives and 30 internal halal auditors to improve technical support and guidance to entrepreneurs.
The event also saw collaboration efforts expanded through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MARA and Maybank Islamic Berhad, and a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), in an effort to strengthen halal competency development and certification support.
