Kuala Lumpur — September 23, 2026 — The 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) officially opened its doors today at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), launching a massive global gathering that brings together 2,000 exhibition booths from participants representing 58 countries across 14 diverse halal industry sectors.
The grand opening of the world’s premier halal trade platform marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s trade aspirations. Reflecting the immense momentum and growing commercial appeal of the global halal economy, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) announced that it has raised its ambitious sales target for MIHAS 2026 to RM5 billion, up from its initial projection of RM4.5 billion.
The upward revision follows a surge of stronger-than-expected interest from international buyers and global trade delegations. MATRADE reported that it has received more than 450 applications from international buyers and importers eager to source goods and services at the showcase, comfortably surpassing the agency’s initial target of 300 buyers.
The comprehensive four-day event, running from September 23 to 26, features a balanced and robust global footprint. Malaysian exhibitors account for approximately 70 percent of the total exhibition space, while international participants make up the remaining 30 percent, highlighting MIHAS’s dual role as a springboard for local enterprises to enter foreign markets and a gateway for international brands seeking a foothold in Southeast Asia.
Event Scope and Market Scale
Held under the guiding theme “Shaping Trust, Driving Resilience,” MIHAS 2026 extends far beyond traditional food and beverage certification, showcasing a wide breadth of sectors that define the modern halal ecosystem. The event covers pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, Islamic finance, tourism, healthcare, specialized ingredients, logistics, and a myriad of other professional services.
This multi-sectoral approach aligns seamlessly with Malaysia’s broader national economic roadmap. The country currently projects that its domestic halal market will reach approximately RM523.5 billion, equivalent to roughly US$113 billion, by the year 2030. Within that timeframe, the halal sector is expected to contribute about 11 percent of the nation’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), underscoring its critical importance to Malaysia’s long-term economic resilience and diversification strategies.
To manage and elevate the scale of the exhibition for the coming years, MATRADE has appointed ES Exhibition Sdn Bhd as the new official event management company for MIHAS under a strategic five-year term spanning from 2026 to 2030. This partnership aims to introduce fresh operational efficiencies and enhanced networking capabilities to the massive annual trade fair.
A major highlight of this year’s exhibition is the debut of the Women in Export (WiEX) cluster. This pioneering initiative reflects MATRADE’s dedicated commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in the halal business landscape, ensuring their active leadership and meaningful participation in the expanding global halal economy.
Business Matching Programme
At the core of MIHAS 2026 is its intensive business-matching ecosystem, designed to forge lasting commercial ties between local producers and global markets. MATRADE has organized its flagship International Sourcing Programme (INSP) to facilitate targeted, pre-arranged meetings between 600 Malaysian companies and the 450 verified international buyers currently in attendance. Organizers anticipate that these curated interactions will yield around 4,000 individual business-matching meetings over the course of the four-day event.
The vast networking landscape is structured across 14 distinct industry clusters, enabling participants to navigate the expansive exhibition floor efficiently and connect directly with targeted industry players, suppliers, and institutional investors from across the 58 participating nations.
Regulated-by-Design Approach
To maintain the highest standards of integrity and consumer confidence, MIHAS 2026 has introduced a forward-thinking “regulated-by-design” approach. This framework ensures that every product featured across the exhibition booths is thoroughly pre-vetted for uncompromising integrity, complete supply chain traceability, and strict adherence to global compliance standards. By embedding quality assurance into the core design of the showcase, MATRADE aims to reinforce trust among international importers and consumers alike, positioning MIHAS as a benchmark for credibility in the international halal marketplace.
MIHAS 2026 continues through September 26 at MITEC in Kuala Lumpur. Organized entirely by MATRADE, the event is open to trade professionals and general public visitors, with complimentary registration available online for all attendees wishing to explore the exhibition floor and attend accompanying industry conferences.