GEORGE TOWN, December 17 – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged local Muslim-friendly food and beverage businesses to obtain halal certification as a gateway to expanding not just within Malaysia, but into South-east Asia, China, Europe, and the United States.
Speaking at the FoodPreneur Expo 2025 at Setia Spice Convention Centre, he highlighted Malaysia’s reputation for a trusted halal certification system and emphasized that food entrepreneurs should leverage this advantage to capture the rapidly growing global halal market.
Chow noted that many local establishments have yet to pursue certification due to misunderstandings or perceived bureaucratic hurdles, and called on Jakim and the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang to streamline the process to encourage wider participation.
Chow also pointed out that successful international franchises, such as China’s Mixue, have embraced halal certification to tap into global opportunities, underscoring the potential for Penang’s eateries to do the same.
He emphasized that the state’s robust halal ecosystem, covering equipment, ingredients, and packaging, provides strong support for local businesses to confidently scale up and compete internationally, turning halal certification into both a strategic advantage and a growth catalyst for the F&B sector.
