On May 24, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, in collaboration with the National Halal Certification Center (Halcert), Maybank, and Down Horizon, co-organized the Vietnam–Singapore Halal Trade Conference 2025in hybrid format.
The event was held both in person at the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality (STAMEQ), Ministry of Science and Technology (Vietnam) and in Singapore, with many Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses joining virtually via Zoom.
A Bilateral Platform for Cooperation in the Halal Industry
Table of Contents
The conference was part of the 2025 annual plan of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, focusing on:
-
Supporting Vietnamese enterprises to connect with Singaporean partners;
-
Sharing insights on Halal certification regulations and market opportunities;
-
Promoting Vietnam’s Halal products and investment potential; and
-
Encouraging cross-border collaboration in logistics, manufacturing, and trade.
The event also aimed to deepen economic cooperation within the Vietnam–Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, highlighting Halal as an emerging growth sector for both countries.
Distinguished Participants and Opening Remarks
The conference welcomed the participation of:
-
H.E. Tran Phuoc Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore;
-
Dr. Nguyen Thien Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Directorate for Standards, Metrology, and Quality (STAMEQ);
-
Mr. Alvin Lee Han Eng, CEO of Maybank;
-
Mr. Muhd Faizad Othman, Director of Halal Development, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS);
-
Ms. Dewi Hartaty Suratty, CEO of Down Horizon.
In his opening address, Ambassador Tran Phuoc Anh emphasized that Vietnam–Singapore relations have developed strongly, reaching the highest level of cooperation in March 2025 with the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Singapore remains Vietnam’s 4th largest trading partner in ASEAN. In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record 31.67 billion SGD, up 9.49% year-on-year — with Halal products making a notable contribution.
The Ambassador noted that Halal is a rapidly expanding global trend, and Singapore — with its internationally recognized Halal certification system — serves as an ideal gateway for Halal products to enter major Muslim markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the UAE, and beyond, supported by its advanced logistics and financial infrastructure.
Vietnam’s Halal Strategy and Policy Direction
Dr. Nguyen Thien Nghia, Vice Chairman of STAMEQ, affirmed that the Vietnam–Singapore Halal Trade Conference 2025 is an important milestone as ASEAN economies strive to deepen regional integration and capture new market opportunities.
He highlighted that Halal has evolved beyond a religious requirement into a global standard of quality, trust, and sustainability. Vietnam has recognized Halal as a strategic industry to diversify export markets and enhance the value-added content of Vietnamese products.
STAMEQ, as the national standards authority, continues to work closely with businesses and certification organizations to build a reliable framework supporting the sustainable growth of the Halal economy in Vietnam.
Trade Insights and Market Opportunities
Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Commercial Counselor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, shared updates on the global Halal market, including:
-
Emerging growth trends and regional dynamics;
-
Challenges and opportunities for Vietnamese companies;
-
Singapore’s import needs for Halal-certified goods; and
-
Vietnam’s export strengths such as food, agriculture, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
He emphasized that Vietnam and Singapore can leverage complementary advantages — with Vietnam’s strong manufacturing base and Singapore’s global trade hub position — along with the benefits of next-generation FTAs(CPTPP, RCEP, EVFTA) to jointly penetrate Muslim-majority markets worldwide.
Industry Perspectives and Technological Innovation
Mr. Muhamad Azzad Ahmad, Director of Islamic CFS, Maybank, discussed key elements for building a thriving Halal ecosystem, while Mr. Muhamad Faizal Othman of MUIS provided detailed insights into Halal import regulations and certification requirements in Singapore.
Ms. Dewi Hartaty Suratty, CEO of Down Horizon, emphasized that the Halal industry has entered a new era, driven by ethical consumerism, digital transformation, and ASEAN’s emergence as a global Halal hub. She introduced AI-based compliance platforms designed to make Halal certification more accessible and efficient.
According to Ms. Dewi, countries should prioritize Halal business growth to reinforce ASEAN’s role as a trusted leader in the global Halal ecosystem.
Strong Business Participation and Cooperation Commitments
The conference attracted over 170 participants from Vietnam and Singapore, including manufacturers, certification bodies, consultants, and media representatives from sectors such as food processing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, consumer goods, and packaging.
The lively discussions helped clarify regulatory differences between Vietnamese and Singaporean Halal standards, enabling businesses to better understand compliance requirements for exporting to Singapore.
At the conclusion of the event, business-matching sessions were held both in Hanoi and Singapore. Singaporean companies expressed strong interest in future cooperation with Vietnamese partners in Halal-related trade, investment, and service industries, and called on the Vietnam Trade Office to continue facilitating bilateral Halal collaboration programs.