Malaysia backs plan for halal association in Cambodia

The gesture is expected to boost trade, strengthen Cambodia’s food and non-food sectors, and open new doors for Muslim-friendly tourism in the Kingdom.

Malaysian halal authorities have outlined plans to support the establishment of a dedicated halal association in Cambodia, saying the move could significantly boost bilateral trade, strengthen Cambodia’s food and non-food sectors, and open new doors for Muslim-friendly tourism in the Kingdom.

The announcement was made during a press conference at the Global Halal Summit, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on September 19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Senior Malaysian officials from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) stressed that Cambodia was well-placed to tap into the rapidly growing global halal economy.

Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, Director General of JAKIM, said Malaysia’s experience in building one of the world’s most recognised halal certification systems could guide Cambodia as it seeks to formalise its own halal framework.

“We have carried out several training programmes in Cambodia already. The next step is to have someone truly qualified to establish an association body in Cambodia,” he said. “We have been discussing this extensively with our Cambodian counterparts, and we believe the Kingdom has strong potential to develop its halal industry alongside halal-certified production zones.”

Sirajuddin added that Cambodian representatives had actively participated in Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) and Malaysia’s CB Convention this year, which underscored the growing appetite for halal standards and practices in the Kingdom.

“We are confident a lot of Cambodian products can be exported globally once they are certified halal, while at the same time, more products from Malaysia are already entering the Cambodian market,” he noted.

Abu Bakar Yusof, Deputy CEO of MATRADE, emphasised Cambodia’s increasing presence in Malaysia’s flagship halal trade events. “This year, 16 Cambodian companies are participating in MIHAS, reflecting rising interest in Malaysia’s halal ecosystem. Malaysia offers opportunities across 40 product clusters — not only food but also pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, Islamic finance, transport and even utilities,” he said.

He explained that Malaysia’s Hosted Buyers Programme, introduced in MIHAS last year, was designed to connect international participants directly with local businesses.

“This year alone, we have arranged 300 business matchmaking sessions with foreign exhibitors over the four days of MIHAS. Malaysia is ready to act as a hub for halal trade and we welcome Cambodian companies to explore this potential,” he said.

Anis Rozalina Ramli, Senior Manager of the Corporate Communications Division at the Islamic Tourism Centre, said Muslim-friendly tourism presented another promising area for collaboration.

“At ITC, we can offer training and recognition programmes such as our Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance Recognition, which has been widely adopted in Malaysia across more than 300 travel agencies, hotels and tour guides,” she said. “We look forward to exploring how this can be adapted for Cambodia in cooperation with the relevant agencies.”

Overall, it reflects that the creation of a halal association in Cambodia would provide a clear regulatory framework for halal certification, allowing Cambodian producers to gain better access to Muslim-majority markets and improving consumer confidence. The association could also serve as a platform for training, awareness and business matchmaking between Cambodian firms and international buyers.

Moreover, Muslim-friendly tourism, combined with a formalised halal certification system, could position Cambodia as an attractive destination for Muslim travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Middle East and beyond. This would contribute not only to Cambodia’s food and hospitality sectors but also to transport, retail and Islamic finance services.

With global demand for halal goods and services expected to continue growing strongly, officials say the planned Cambodian halal association could mark a turning point for the Kingdom’s participation in the international halal economy, creating jobs, diversifying exports and reinforcing its role as a regional trading hub.

Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Malaysia reached $690 million in the first eight months of 2025 (January–August), reflecting a 14.5 per cent increase on the same period last year, according to figures from the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).

Cambodian exports to Malaysia posted a modest year-on-year rise of 1.5 per cent to $88.33 million, while imports from Malaysia surged by 16.7 per cent to $601.68 million over the same period.

Source: Khmer Times