Muslim businesses in China target Malaysia as global halal gateway
The growing presence of China’s Muslim entrepreneurs at a festival in Kuala Lumpur reflects their trust in Malaysia’s strong halal standards
Smoke from charcoal grills hangs over rows of food stalls as vendors at a Kuala Lumpur mall skewer lamb and pull long strands of noodles by hand, with the smell of cumin and chilli filling the evening air.
The 11-day festival, which concludes on January 4, features around 60 vendors selling food, art and handicrafts, mostly from China. Several participants have already set up restaurants, factories or distribution operations in Malaysia after earlier editions of the event, according to organiser Shoaib Ma, a Lanzhou-born food influencer and a restaurant owner.
“The halal industry is very big. In China, we have the capacity for mass production, but the problem is trust,” Ma told This Week in Asia on the sidelines of the festival.
China is home to an estimated 30 million Muslims, spread across regions including Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai, as well as major cities such as Xian.