On January 20, 2025, in Hanoi, Vietnam, leaders of the Commission for Standards, Metrology, and Quality of Vietnam (STAMEQ) and the Vietnam Halal Certification Authority (HALCERT) held a meeting and working session with Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Haji Abdullah, President of the Malaysian National Co-operative Movement (ANGKASA) and President of the ASEAN Co-operative Organization (ACO), along with other leaders and representatives from ANGKASA.

Overviews of the meeting

During the working session, the Vietnamese representatives provided an overview of the Halal industry and the Halal standards that have been issued in Vietnam. They expressed a desire to establish deeper collaboration with ANGKASA specifically and with Malaysia in general, aiming to further promote the robust development of this highly promising sector of production and services.

At the meeting, the President of ANGKASA extended an invitation to HALCERT to participate in the ASEAN Co-operative Dialogue Conference, scheduled to take place in April 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Vietnamese delegates believe that attending this conference will play a significant role in strengthening cooperative relationships among cooperatives, organizations, and enterprises within the ASEAN community, while also providing an opportunity to boost Vietnam’s budding Halal industry.

Dr. Hà Minh Hiệp – Acting President of STAMEQ receives the souvenir gift from ANGKASA

The delegates from ANGKASA take a commemorative photo at STAMEQ

After the meeting at STAMEQ, representatives from STAMEQ and HALCERT accompanied the ANGKASA delegation to the Vietnam Co-operative Alliance (VCA) for further discussions. During this session, the two sides deliberated on comprehensive strategies to enhance cooperation between the cooperatives of both countries, ranging from sharing operational experiences to supporting access to international markets.

The leader of VCA also highlighted the potential for developing agriculture and the Halal industry through cooperatives. Currently, VCA represents over 10 million members, with many cooperatives already adopting quality standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and Organic Agriculture. These cooperatives are well-prepared to implement Halal standards if positive signals from the market are observed.

Representatives from STAMEQ and HALCERT joined the ANGKASA delegation in a meeting and working session at the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA)

Hồng Quân – Vietnam Halal Certification Authority (HALCERT)