Vietnam-Malaysia Halal Certification Cooperation to Boost Trade Towards $20 Billion

Vietnam’s Halal certification authority has established direct cooperation with Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM). The strategic cooperation is expected to be strengthened through government-to-government (G2G) cooperation as a foundation, before expanding into business-to-business (B2B) linkages, thereby helping Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in the international Halal ecosystem. By leveraging their complementary strengths under the NAP 2.0 framework, Malaysia and Vietnam have considerable potential to deepen cooperation to build a more technology-driven, sustainable, and resilient agricultural sector in Southeast Asia. Prof. Tan Jian Ping, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Advancement and a Zero-Waste Economy (STARGAZE) at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), said NAP 2.0 focuses on applying Industry 4.0 technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), automation and biotechnology. New projects are not only adding resources to production and business activities but also expanding infrastructure capacity, developing inter-sectoral clusters, attracting supporting enterprises and increasing the participation of domestic firms in value chains. Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III said since arriving in Vietnam in January, he has travelled to various localities to seek opportunities to connect Vietnamese and Philippine localities. The development of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors should not focus solely on increasing export value, but must be linked to comprehensive restructuring of agriculture towards modern, ecological, high-value-added and sustainable development, said Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc. Seminar participants noted that businesses should move beyond export activities by strengthening governance capacity, building partnerships and gaining a deeper understanding of the US market. Vietnam emerged as a market with significant potential for Argentine businesses thanks to its strong growth, extensive FTA network and increasingly important role in regional supply chains. Vietnam is seeking to strengthen financial cooperation with Canada and attract more long-term capital to support its economic growth and sustainable development, said Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan. The Nanning-Can Tho service is expected to operate twice a month, with a transit time of about seven days. Units are being asked to get ahead of the problem, flagging suspect transport routes, areas, warehouses, distribution centres, e-commerce accounts and business households so enforcement can be targeted. On September 21 (local time) in New York, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Boeing leaders. Representatives of Sun Group and major Vietnamese aviation companies, including Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, attended the meeting. As Indonesia continues to expand and develop its halal industry ecosystem, Halal Indo 2026 provides Vietnamese businesses with an opportunity to promote their products, seek partners and better prepare to enter one of the world’s major halal markets. With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,923 VND/USD, and the floor rate 24,359 VND/USD. Ho Chi Minh City aims to become one of Asia’s top logistics and international transshipment hubs by 2045, while transforming into a smart and sustainable coastal city. According to data from the Vietnam Customs cited by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), shrimp exports reached 478.5 million USD in August, up 4.2% from the same month last year. The eight-month total stood at 3.3 billion USD, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%. Financial reports from 28 banks showed that total customer demand deposits from both individuals and businesses stood at approximately 2.98 quadrillion VND as of June 30, 2026, a decrease of 2% compared to the end of 2025. Vietnam has developed a relatively comprehensive supply chain, covering forest plantations, raw materials, processing, design, manufacturing and logistics, creating jobs for about one million workers, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFOREST) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AA Corporation, said. Hai Phong is a key marine economic hub of Vietnam, thanks to its strong shipbuilding capacity and high-quality maritime training system. Alongside its capacity for new shipbuilding and ship repair, the city is also a leading provider of maritime workers for domestic and international businesses. The import value of meat and meat products hit 2.04 billion USD as of mid-September, of which pork products accounted for nearly 376 million USD, according to Vietnam Customs. Vietjet, HDBank and Vikki Bank announced expanded cooperation with companies including Pratt & Whitney, FTAI Aviation, SKY Leasing, Citi, Standard Chartered and Mastercard. Vietnam is now Argentina’s largest importer of soybean meal, ahead of other regional markets such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The partnership will connect Sun Group’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem with Visa’s global network and technology capabilities to advance digital tourism, promote Vietnam as a destination in international markets, and develop new payment and customer experience solutions, with a focus on the APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Phu Quoc. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.