Malaysia has extended a strategic invitation to Maldivian enterprises to capitalize on its thriving halal ecosystem, emphasizing untapped opportunities in halal tourism and cross-border trade. Speaking at the Maldives-Malaysia Business Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz highlighted Malaysia’s Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 as a blueprint for regional collaboration, citing Islamic finance, pharmaceuticals, and food production as key growth areas.
The forum, attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, showcased existing Malaysian investments in the Maldives, including brands like Secret Recipe and Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare. Tengku Zafrul urged more Malaysian firms to leverage the Maldives’ business-friendly policies, noting the archipelago’s potential as a gateway for halal exports in South Asia.
Bilateral trade between the two nations reached RM862.7 million in 2024, reflecting a 4.3% year-on-year increase, with the Maldives emerging as Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in the region. To further deepen ties, Malaysia invited Maldivian stakeholders to participate in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in September 2025, positioning the event as a catalyst for global halal economic partnerships.
The visit also saw the signing of three memoranda of understanding and two exchanges of notes, spanning sectors from education to tourism. President Muizzu’s four-day official trip—his first to Malaysia since taking office in 2023—aims to elevate cooperation in trade, youth development, and sports, reinforcing the nations’ shared economic and cultural interests.