Nigeria leads West Africa with 21 buyers to Malaysia trade fair

Nigeria is leading a strong West African delegation of 21 buyers at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2025, organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

The delegation includes eight buyers from Nigeria, alongside representatives from Senegal, Mali, and Ghana.

The diverse group, which ranges from dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to some of the region’s largest supermarket chains, highlights West Africa’s growing interest in the global halal economy.

Nigeria’s prominent role at MIHAS 2025 reflects its ambition to establish itself as a halal hub for West Africa, driven by increasing demand for halal products and services across the region.

The Nigerian buyers have expressed interest in a wide array of halal-related products and services, from premium ready-to-eat meals and decorative packaging solutions to surgical gloves, toiletries, and specialised education and training services.

They also showed strong interest in digital solutions, including software development, e-commerce platforms, and logistics services, further underscoring Nigeria’s rising importance as a hub for both consumer and business-to-business halal trade.

The participation of West African buyers at MIHAS 2025 is part of the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), which concluded on September 17, 2025. The programme facilitated over 4,000 one-to-one business meetings, matching 300 international buyers from 50 countries with 600 Malaysian exporters.

Sales generated from these meetings alone are estimated at RM2.5 billion (USD 585.6 million). The breadth of international participation demonstrates the growing global recognition of halal certification as a benchmark of quality, traceability, and ethical assurance for consumers of all backgrounds.

MIHAS 2025, which runs from 17 to 20 September 2025, also focuses on organic, vegan, and sustainable products, reflecting the rising demand for responsible and value-based consumption worldwide. Alongside the sourcing programme, two flagship initiatives are featured this year: the MIHAS Knowledge Hub and the MIHAS Awards.

The MIHAS Knowledge Hub 2025, a hallmark initiative by MATRADE, positions the showcase as a year-round trade ecosystem. This year’s edition comprises 23 strategically curated sessions led by 74 global industry experts, supplemented by two webinars on supply chain traceability and e-commerce.

These sessions aim to equip businesses with digital solutions critical for global market expansion. In addition, the MIHAS Awards 2025 spotlight innovation and sustainability among Malaysian halal exporters, with winners to be announced at the awards ceremony on 20 September.

The High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria, Aiyub Omar, expressed his delight at Nigeria’s strong participation and emphasised that the keen interest of Nigerian halal industry players will accelerate the development of the country’s halal ecosystem in the coming years.

He revealed that in August 2025 he met with a representative from Nigeria’s Presidency to discuss halal collaboration between Malaysia and Nigeria, particularly following the completion of Nigeria’s halal roadmap, which is still being finalised. According to him, this development reflects growing global confidence in Malaysia’s halal leadership and Nigeria’s rising role in shaping the regional and global halal economy.

Echoing this, Jude Bryan, First Secretary (Trade) of the Malaysian High Commission, said his office in Lagos had received an overwhelming response from Nigerian buyers and institutions eager to participate in MIHAS 2025 in various capacities. He stressed that this strong interest signals a clear opportunity for enhanced collaboration and deeper partnerships in the halal sector. He also noted that while the physical INSP in Kuala Lumpur had concluded, its virtual component will continue until November 5, 2025, giving buyers who could not attend in person the chance to participate.

Nigeria’s active presence at MIHAS 2025 comes against the backdrop of expanding trade between the two countries. Malaysia’s total trade with Nigeria surged by 58.7% in 2024, reaching USD 1.52 billion compared to USD 956.76 million in the previous year.

Exports from Malaysia to Nigeria grew by 5.8% to USD 550.08 million, while imports from Nigeria more than doubled, rising 121.7% over the same period. However, for the period of January to August 2025, total trade contracted by 8.7% to USD 883.82 million. During that time, Malaysia’s exports to Nigeria rose by 19.9% to USD 413.24 million. The top merchandise exports from Malaysia to Nigeria included palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products, processed food, machinery and equipment, printed manufactures, and metal manufactures.

With Nigeria leading a strong West African delegation of 21 buyers, MIHAS 2025 reaffirms its role as a premier global platform for halal trade and innovation, while also strengthening the economic and strategic ties between Nigeria, West Africa, and Malaysia.