House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)





The partnership between the Philippines and Malaysia in the halal industry is bound to create more jobs and business opportunities. “The agreement between the Philippines and Malaysia to cooperate in this vital sector undoubtedly signifies a significant step towards the creation of more jobs, as well as livelihood and business prospects of our people,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said. Romualdez was part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s official delegation in his state visit to Malaysia from July 25 to 27, where the partnership was sealed. He said that ccording to market research, the global halal food market size reached US$ 2,221.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 4,177.3 billion by 2028. “The halal industry holds immense potential. By working together, we can capitalize on the halal market's vast opportunities, creating new avenues for trade, investment, and employment,” said Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative. Malaysia, one of the leading halal industries in the world, has offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials in this sector, particularly those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as in other areas of cooperation. As such, Romualdez said the partnership between the two countries in the halal industry forged during the state visit of President Marcos in Malaysia will bolster the competitiveness of our businesses, particularly in the agri-food sector. “With President Marcos’ priority on digitalization of government process and improved Internet connectivity, we can tap e-commerce channels and social media to market our goods globally and profit from the growing demand worldwide for Halal products,” Romualdez said. As the leader of the 312-House of Representatives, Romualdez reiterated his commitment that the chamber would consider measures that would help our country benefit from the revitalized ties between the Philippines and Malaysia. “The House of Representatives stands ready to support any legislative measures necessary to facilitate the successful implementation of this bilateral cooperation in the halal industry. We will work in tandem with the executive branch to create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, investment, and responsible business practices,” he said.