Libya Pavilion At MIHAS 2026 Set To Expand Malaysia-Libya Trade -- MATRADE
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The opening of the Libya Pavilion at the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2026) is set to open new avenues for Malaysian and Libyan businesses to expand trade, said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
In a statement today, MATRADE said Malaysia’s exports to Libya rose 73.4 per cent year-on-year to RM106.5 million in the first eight months of 2026, comprising mainly machinery, equipment and parts, chemicals and chemical products, and palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products.
MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the growing momentum in Malaysia-Libya economic relations was reflected in bilateral trade, which reached RM1.03 billion in 2025, an increase of 38.9 per cent from the previous year.
Officiating the Libya Pavilion, he said the pavilion was more than an exhibition stand, describing it as a two-way trade corridor.
“It is a bridge, a gateway into North Africa and the Mediterranean for Malaysia and ASEAN, and a launching pad into Asia’s halal economy for our Libyan friends.
“By bringing Libya’s growing private sector into Malaysia’s halal ecosystem, our certification, quality assurance and trade infrastructure, we can build supply chains strong enough to serve the whole Islamic world,” he said.
Reezal Merican said this aligned with Malaysia’s proposal to establish the ASEAN Halal Council in September 2027 as part of efforts to turn the idea of a regional halal council into a functioning institution.
MATRADE said its Export Acceleration Mission to Tripoli in May 2024, involving 10 Malaysian companies, generated nearly RM250 million in business opportunities.
It said Malaysia’s participation in the Tripoli International Fair earlier this year helped maintain that momentum and paved the way for a full country pavilion presence at MIHAS 2026.
The Libya Pavilion is jointly organised by the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences.
Reezal Merican said he reaffirmed MATRADE’s commitment to facilitating market access for both regions.
“MATRADE stands ready, arms wide open, to help Libyan enterprises step into ASEAN, just as we hope more Malaysian companies will seize the opportunities Libya offers,” he added.
MIHAS 2026, themed “Shaping Trust, Driving Resilience”, brings together 2,000 exhibitors from 58 countries and is expected to generate RM5 billion in trade sales.
“As Malaysia aims for RM80 billion in halal exports by 2030, active participation from international partners like Libya plays a key role in building resilient global halal supply chains.
“In terms of regional turnout, Northeast Asia and ASEAN anchor the buyer contingents, closely followed by expanding representation from Africa as a key nontraditional growth market,” said MATRADE.
-- BERNAMA