Nestlé Malaysia and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership through the SYNERGY (Strengthening Your Network and Ecosystem for Resilient Growth) initiative. Theed under the theme ‘Memacu Halal, Memperkasa Komuniti’, this collaboration highlights a shared commitment to fostering an inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready Halal industry while strengthening Malaysia’s status as a global leader in the sector. JAKIM has recognized Nestlé Malaysia’s comprehensive end-to-end Halal ecosystem, which has evolved since the company began pioneering Halal practices in the 1970s. As the Global Centre of Halal Excellence for the Nestlé Group, the Malaysian operations play a pivotal role in sharing local expertise across the company’s global network to build worldwide trust in Halal standards.
The partnership emphasizes that a credible Halal ecosystem requires consistent cooperation between regulators and industry players to uphold rigorous standards. Nestlé Malaysia’s commitment extends across its entire value chain, from certified manufacturing facilities to grassroots community engagement. By working closely with JAKIM, the company aims to scale up efforts that empower youth, support local entrepreneurs, and strengthen the national supply chain. This industry-led contribution complements national efforts to multiply positive impacts and maintain Malaysia’s reputation as a leading global Halal hub.
Education and talent development form a cornerstone of this holistic Halal strategy. The Halal@School program, in partnership with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), has introduced foundational Halal values to over 6,000 students across Peninsular Malaysia. Building on this, the Halal@STEM initiative launched in 2025 has engaged hundreds of secondary students to spark interest in science through a Halal lens, supported by the inaugural HalalSTEM Expo in Pahang. Additionally, the Nestlé Youngpreneurs Programme has provided 200 university students with practical business insights and Halal best practices.
Nestlé Malaysia also focuses on building capability within the business community and supply chain. Since 2010, the SME Mentoring Programme has assisted more than 1,200 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in navigating the Halal certification process. More recently, the company introduced a pioneering Halal certification mentoring initiative specifically for third-party logistics providers in collaboration with JAKIM, engaging 27 companies to ensure strict compliance throughout the supply chain. Public awareness is further driven through a podcast series with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), which has reached hundreds of thousands of listeners nationwide. These collective efforts demonstrate that Halal has been internalized as a core organizational value, ensuring a resilient and scalable foundation for the future of Malaysia’s Halal economy.