Nigeria Poised To Tap Into $3.5 Trillion Global Halal Economy Ecosystem

According to Ireporter Online, Omar made the call while highlighting that MIHAS 2026 is expected to generate about $1.13 billion in trade value, featuring 2,380 exhibition booths and attracting participants from 45 countries, including Nigeria. He encouraged Nigerian businesses to leverage the global trade platform to identify potential partners, suppliers, and technology providers that could strengthen the country’s emerging halal ecosystem.

He described MIHAS as one of the world’s leading halal trade gateways, designed to connect international businesses with verified halal product and service providers through strategic business engagements and cross-border trade opportunities. He added that the platform would play a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s ambition to become a key player in the global halal economy, in line with its newly launched National Halal Economy Strategy.

The Trade Counsellor, Mr. Jude Bryan S. Dass, also noted that eight Nigerian buyers and 21 participants from across West Africa, including Senegal, Mali, and Ghana, took part in MIHAS 2025 under the International Sourcing Programme (INSP). He expressed optimism that participation from Nigeria and the wider West African region would increase significantly at MIHAS 2026, given the rising interest from businesses and institutions.

He further explained that approved buyers would benefit from incentives such as complimentary hotel accommodation and ground transportation throughout the programme. According to him, Nigerian exhibitors may also participate under a consolidated national pavilion, enabling them to engage directly with up to 50 Malaysian importers through structured business meetings aimed at fostering market entry and distribution partnerships across Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.

Malaysia’s trade relations with Nigeria also recorded notable growth, with exports rising by 20.7 percent in 2025 to $664 million, reflecting strengthening bilateral economic ties. Total trade between both countries from January to March 2026 also increased by 5.9 percent, with Malaysian exports growing by 4.8 percent and imports from Nigeria rising by 7.2 percent within the same period.

The Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2026, recently unveiled by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), was soft-launched on April 28, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur. The event, themed “Shaping Trust, Driving Resilience,” is designed to address evolving global trade challenges, including supply chain disruptions and market fragmentation.

Scheduled to hold from September 23 to 26, 2026, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, MIHAS 2026 will feature 14 halal-focused sectors spanning food and beverages, modest fashion, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, Islamic finance, tourism, and digital services. Organisers say the event will also deploy advanced digital trade tools to improve business matching and enhance trade conversion opportunities.

Under the International Sourcing Programme, the exhibition aims to host 250 international buyers and 600 Malaysian exporters in structured business engagements, while the Hosted Buyer Programme will connect international participants with Malaysian importers to promote cross-border partnerships and market expansion.

MATRADE reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s global trade presence, noting that initiatives like MIHAS are central to positioning Malaysian products and services as trusted and competitive in international markets.