From 23 to 26 September 2026, Kuala Lumpur will host the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase, the world's leading Halal trade fair. For an Italian company that exports, or wants to export, to Islamic markets, understanding what MIHAS is and how to arrive prepared makes the difference between simply attending and achieving concrete results.
The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) is considered the most important Halal trade fair in the world. The 22nd edition will take place from 23 to 26 September 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free for registered trade visitors. International buyers, exporters, distributors and investors gather for four days of sourcing and negotiations.
For an Italian food company, MIHAS is not a generic fair. It is where the most important Halal supply chains of South-East Asia and the Middle East meet. Those who arrive with a recognised Halal certification have an immediate advantage: they can open commercial conversations that would otherwise take months of groundwork.
The MIHAS 2026 news should be read alongside a figure disclosed by the head of BPJPH — the Indonesian Halal authority — during a public discussion at Paramadina University: 27% of Indonesia's GDP is linked to Halal supply chains. BPJPH stressed that Indonesia should be not only a consumer market for Halal products but also a producer. This signal matters for Italian companies because it makes clear that competition in the region is intensifying: you are not only up against other Western exporters, but against an expanding local production ecosystem.
In this context, attending MIHAS with a certification recognised by JAKIM — the Malaysian Halal authority — is a practical requirement, not a detail. JAKIM is one of the bodies that recognise HQC Italia, which means companies certified by HQC can access the Malaysian market directly without additional steps.
Turning up at a fair like MIHAS without a valid, recognised Halal certification is, at best, a wasted opportunity. The buyers present — especially those from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Gulf and Central Asia — systematically check suppliers' certification status before starting any negotiation.
These are the points an Italian company should check before attending:
One aspect that is often underestimated is the difference between having a Halal certification and having a Halal certification that is recognised in the destination country. There is no single Halal authority worldwide: each Islamic country has its own reference institutions, and each of them recognises only those foreign bodies that have passed specific accreditation and verification processes.
HQC Italia is recognised by JAKIM for Malaysia, by MUI and BPJPH for Indonesia, by MUIS for Singapore, by CICOT for Thailand, by SASO and SFDA for Saudi Arabia, and by GAC and EIAC for the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf. This means an HQC certificate has direct operational value in these markets: there is no need to re-certify locally or rely on intermediary bodies.
For a company exhibiting at MIHAS, this translates into a concrete advantage: the Malaysian or Indonesian buyer checking the HQC certificate finds a reference they know and recognise.
MIHAS runs from 23 to 26 September 2026. At the time this article was published, only a few weeks remain. Those who do not yet have a Halal certification need to assess the timeline realistically: gathering documentation, production audit, issue of the certificate. It is not a process that can be completed in a few days.
Those who already hold an HQC certification should check the expiry date and, if necessary, start the renewal early. Attending a fair with a certificate about to expire — or already expired — undermines any negotiation.
For those starting from scratch, the first useful step is to request a quote. HQC Italia provides a free quote within 24 hours.
MIHAS 2026 is a concrete opportunity for Italian food companies that want to enter or consolidate their presence in the Islamic markets of Asia and beyond. Arriving prepared means having a valid Halal certification, issued by a body recognised in the target countries, with product documentation in order. The time available to get organised before the September fair is limited: those who want to take part productively need to move now.
Source: Halal Times, MIHAS 2026 to Open Its Doors to Trade Visitors in Kuala Lumpur, 31 August 2026.
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