On Wednesday 7 January 2026, Consul General Deddy Faisal accompanied a delegation from Halal Development Corporation (HDC) and INCEIF Malaysia in their engagement with the Davao City Government, represented by the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) led by April Marie C. Dayap, together with Hon. Myrna Ortiz, City Councilor and Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry.
Their visit, under the auspices of the Davao–Malaysia Halal Synergy Exchange, was hosted by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Davao Region, headed by Regional Director Arch. Sherrila Porza-Sawah.
The Malaysian delegation comprised of Prof. Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid Al Junid, Head of Programme in Islamic Finance of International Center for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University together with Islamic Finance Researcher & Specialist Dr. Yaxin Ma and Mr. Mohd. Zamulud Awang Kechik, Chief Commercial Officer of the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) Malaysia.
The discussions focused on the city’s strategic halal initiatives, including existing ordinances that support the development of the halal sector.
A key highlight was the announcement of the upcoming Halal Expo scheduled for May 2026, aimed at strengthening halal trade, tourism, and investment opportunities.
This engagement underscores the growing importance of the halal industry, which Malaysia has long championed as a global leader.
Malaysia’s comprehensive halal ecosystem and proven expertise position it as a credible partner in expanding halal markets internationally.
The alignment between Malaysia’s halal industry and initiatives such as Davao City’s Halal Expo reflects the momentum of the global halal economy, with clear potential to deepen trade linkages and drive mutual growth in halal commerce and tourism.