Malaysia continues to strengthen its leadership in the global halal economy through strategic international collaborations, most recently at the Halal Economy Leadership Forum (HELF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
The forum took place on May 22, 2025, at the Centre International de Conférences Algiers Abdelatif Rahal and gathered more than 300 participants, including policymakers, industry leaders, and experts in the halal economy from around the world.
The event was jointly organised by Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) under Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) through its Kuala Lumpur Centre of Excellence, and Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. HELF 2025 focused on promoting inclusive growth, strengthening halal trade, encouraging investment, and driving innovation within the global halal ecosystem.
Malaysia was represented by its Ambassador to Algeria, Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry. He highlighted a 24 per cent growth in Malaysia’s halal exports to Algeria in 2024, which totalled RM156.3 million. Key export products included halal-certified food and beverages, cosmetics, palm oil derivatives, and halal ingredients.
The forum also explored opportunities for cooperation in halal certification, the development of halal industry zones, logistics infrastructure, and capacity-building for small and medium enterprises.
IsDB representatives stressed the need for member countries to actively participate in halal value chains by addressing shortages in halal-certified materials and finished goods. One of the key proposals included the development of dedicated halal zones to support production, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Building on its debut in Riyadh in 2024, HELF continues to serve as a platform for economic integration among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries and to promote Malaysia’s role in advancing the global halal and Islamic economy.
