JAKARTA – The increasing participation of Chinese Muslim business owners at a culinary celebration in Malaysia’s capital demonstrates their confidence in the nation’s internationally respected halal certification framework and its potential as a commercial gateway.

Cultural Commerce Meets Strategic Positioning

At an outdoor venue within 1 Utama Shopping Mall, aromatic smoke rises from charcoal grills as merchants prepare traditional dishes from China’s Muslim-majority regions. Lanzhou beef noodles, Xinjiang lamb skewers, and hand-pulled varieties fill the air with cumin and chili spices, attracting consistent visitor traffic to the Chinese Muslim food festival marking its third annual occurrence.

The eleven-day event, concluding January 4th, features approximately sixty vendors primarily from China, offering culinary items, artistic works, and handicrafts. According to organizer Shoaib Ma—a Lanzhou-born culinary influencer and restaurateur—several previous participants have established Malaysian restaurants, manufacturing facilities, or distribution operations following earlier festival editions.

Addressing Market Credibility Challenges

“The halal sector represents significant opportunity. China possesses mass production capabilities, yet trust remains problematic,” Ma explained during the festival.

China’s Muslim population, estimated at thirty million across Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, and urban centers like Xian, operates numerous halal production facilities. However, Chinese halal products encounter skepticism in overseas Muslim markets due to limited awareness of China’s Muslim communities and certification frameworks.

“Many people remain unaware of Muslim presence in China or our halal industry operations,” Ma noted. “We maintain authentic halal factories, but international recognition proves elusive.”

Malaysia’s Strategic Advantage

Malaysia enjoys recognition as a global halal certification benchmark. With Muslims comprising approximately sixty percent of its thirty-four million population, Malaysian halal standards administered by JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) receive acceptance throughout the Islamic world.

Halal preparation follows Islamic legal requirements, including specific sourcing, slaughter, and handling protocols. Products exclude pork derivatives and alcohol.

Market Growth and Economic Potential

The worldwide halal food market valuation projects to reach 1.98 trillion dollars in 2025, increasing from 1.73 trillion the previous year. Malaysia’s halal food and beverage exports anticipate reaching 12.9 billion dollars in 2025, demonstrating strong growth trajectories.

Under the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030, Malaysia actively attracts foreign manufacturers to establish local production for Middle Eastern, South Asian, and European export markets. The country secured top ranking in the halal food category within the Global Islamic Economy Index for eleven consecutive years through the 2024/25 assessment period.

Malaysia as Gateway Strategy

For Chinese companies, Malaysia functions as an entry point to circumvent barriers encountered when exporting directly from China.

“Our strategy positions Malaysia as our international halal hub,” Ma stated. “We establish factories here, obtain Jakim halal certification, then distribute worldwide to Muslim markets.”

Festival participants include Moustache Wang Catering, a family enterprise from Xinjiang operating approximately forty restaurants and three large factories in China. Owner Ismail, aged twenty-nine, reported growing international interest in their packaged soup noodle products featuring lamb broth, potato, and coriander.

“Yesterday, an Australian Sydney-based company discussed exports with us,” Ismail shared. “We’re receiving interest from Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.”

Cultural Diversity and Regional Cuisine

The festival highlights foods associated with the Hui ethnic Muslim group distributed across northern and western China, alongside Xinjiang cuisine influenced by Central Asian traditions. Attendees travel from Malaysia, Singapore, and more distant locations.

“We view this as expanding the halal marketplace,” explained William Ng, president of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia. “Few Malaysian businesses currently offer Lanzhou noodles, Xinjiang cuisine, or halal food products from China.”

Bilateral Trade Relations

Trade between Malaysia and China continues expanding, with food and agriculture representing faster-growing segments. Malaysia exports halal-certified products, palm oil, and premium agricultural items like durians to China, while Chinese enterprises increasingly utilize Malaysia as a base for accessing Muslim consumer markets elsewhere.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim characterizes China as “Malaysia’s most important trading partner,” noting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s April state visit reflected long-term economic cooperation and mutual prosperity connecting both nations.

Future Expansion Plans

Ma announced similar events planned for Indonesia and Central Asia, beginning with Uzbekistan, followed by Middle Eastern, European, and North American locations.

“Muslim populations grow rapidly in these regions, but Malaysia represents our starting point,” the festival organizer concluded.

This emerging pattern of Chinese Muslim entrepreneurs leveraging Malaysia’s halal infrastructure illustrates how certification frameworks and international recognition create commercial bridges between diverse Muslim communities, facilitating global halal market integration while respecting cultural authenticity and religious requirements.

Original Article:

South China Morning Post. (2026, January 6). Muslim businesses in China target Malaysia as global halal gateway.  Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3338263/muslim-businesses-china-target-malaysia-global-halal-gateway