A delegation of 30 Malaysian enterprises will attend the Vietnam International Food Industry Exhibition (Vietnam Foodexpo), to be hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade from November 11 to 14 in Ho Chi Minh City, while exploring trade cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese exporters.
Mr. Phung Van Thanh, Commercial Counselor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia, stated that the Malaysian delegation visiting the city represents a comprehensive and diverse business coalition.
The delegation, led by representatives of the Penang State Government, headed by Mr. YB Goh Chhoon Aik, Member of the Penang State Executive Council in charge of Trade and Consumer Affairs, will includes representatives from roughly 20 enterprises selected as prime ambassadors of Penang to exhibit products at the expo, alongside sourcing agents, importers, distributors, and major supermarket chains across Malaysia.
It is the first time in years that the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia has organized such a substantial business mission, featuring both provincial government officials, export firms, procurement units, and retail chains, according to Mr. Thanh.
For Malaysian enterprises, Vietnam represents a high-potential market for strategic partnerships. For Malaysian consumers, Vietnamese goods are increasingly favored, with the "Made in Vietnam" label becoming widely recognized. Furthermore, within the Muslim community across Malaysia and globally, Vietnamese products have earned broad trust and acceptance.
Malaysia aims to position the nation as a global trading hub, particularly as the central global hub for Islamic trade. However, Malaysia’s domestic manufacturing capacity cannot single-handedly meet this substantial demand. Consequently, Malaysia and its domestic enterprises must secure reliable, capable partners for long-term supply partnerships. Within the ASEAN region, Vietnam stands out as an optimal partner to help realize these strategic ambitions.
Mr. Ariff Khalid, Business Development Director at Malaysia’s Aska Jitu Enterprise, assessed that Vietnam possesses abundant natural resources, developed industrial foundations, and multi-sector manufacturing and processing geared toward exports. Partnering with Malaysia—a leading ASEAN commercial center positioned as the global Islamic trading hub—will generate mutual advantages, paving the way for Vietnamese goods to access new markets and Muslim consumer bases worldwide.
By the end of the third quarter of 2026, total import-export turnover between Vietnam and Malaysia reached $17.4 billion, already surpassing the full-year 2025 mark of $16.33 billion. This performance underscores the immense untapped potential and room for sustained commercial growth between the two nations.
Google translate