KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) will launch the Women in Export (WiEX) platform at the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in the global halal economy and expand export opportunities for women-led businesses.
The initiative, known as WiEX @MIHAS, will be held alongside MIHAS 2026 from Sept 23 to 26 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here.
Building on the success of the inaugural WiEX Forum in 2025, the platform carries the theme “Advancing Women in the Halal Economy” and is designed to provide women entrepreneurs with greater access to international markets, strategic partnerships and export development opportunities.
The platform comprises four key components: the WiEX Pavilion, the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), the WiEX Forum @MIHAS, and the Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita.
The WiEX Pavilion will feature women-owned and women-led enterprises representing MIHAS’ 14 halal industry sectors, showcasing halal products, services, sustainable business practices and export-ready solutions.
A total of 80 booths have been allocated under the pavilion, with 60 reserved for Malaysian companies and the remaining for international exhibitors.
Participating Malaysian companies will also benefit from pre-arranged business matching sessions with international buyers under MATRADE’s International Sourcing Programme.
This year, MATRADE will bring in 300 international buyers from various countries and aims to facilitate more than 120 business matching sessions for Malaysian companies exhibiting under the WiEX Pavilion.
Through these networking opportunities, participating businesses will have direct access to international buyers, distributors, retailers, investors and other key decision-makers in the global halal industry.
Another highlight of the initiative is the WiEX Forum @MIHAS, themed “Thriving Through Uncertainty: How Women Exporters Can Adapt, Compete, and Grow.”
The forum will feature industry leaders, policymakers and successful exporters discussing strategies to navigate evolving global trade conditions, harness digitalisation and artificial intelligence, diversify into new markets, and build resilient and sustainable export businesses.
Meanwhile, the Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita will recognise outstanding women entrepreneurs across three categories: Product Excellence, Service Excellence, and Innovation and Sustainability Excellence.
Recipients will receive greater visibility through MATRADE and MIHAS platforms, strategic profiling opportunities, and priority access to selected export promotion programmes.
MATRADE Chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said empowering women entrepreneurs was essential to unlocking the full potential of the halal economy.
“A halal economy that doesn’t fully harness the talent of its women entrepreneurs is only operating at half its potential.
“WiEX @MIHAS puts women entrepreneurs in the lead, driving innovation, quality and market agility in the halal economy. Every woman who grows through it brings us closer to our RM80 billion halal export target by 2030. That’s not just good policy, it’s good economics,” he said.
Meanwhile, MATRADE Chief Executive Officer Abu Bakar Yusof said women entrepreneurs continue to play an increasingly important role in driving innovation, creating employment and contributing to economic growth across industries.
He said WiEX @MIHAS 2026 was designed to provide a comprehensive ecosystem that combines business opportunities, strategic partnerships, capacity building and industry recognition under one platform.
“This initiative equips women-led businesses with the networks, knowledge and market access needed to strengthen their export capabilities and compete globally in the halal marketplace,” he said.
