KOPMEH–UMATY GLOBAL MOU SIGNING CEREMONY - Open a New Gateway for Malaysian Cooperatives into Indonesia

From left: Mr. Mohd. Ridzuan (Ho. Secretary of KOPMEH), Haji Rozman Abas (Chairman of KOPMEH), Bapak Khairul Hisham (Principal of UMATY GROUP) and Ms Bella Asyarah (Creative Media Editor for MuslimpreneursTV)

The Malaysia–Indonesia partnership begins at MIHAS 2026 but the bigger mission is what comes next: helping Malaysian cooperatives and entrepreneurs understand, access and build sustainable opportunities in the Indonesian market.

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 September 2026 — What happens after a major business event ends?

The booths come down. Delegates return home. Business cards and contacts have been exchanged. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of new connections have been made. But the real question is how many of those connections eventually become real business?

This is the thinking behind MyHalalEcosystem.com (MHE) and its proposition - Beyond the Event. Into the Economy.

At MIHAS 2026, Koperasi Majlis Ekonomi Halal Selangor Berhad (KOPMEH) took an important step towards putting that idea into practice by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UMATY GLOBAL GROUP, Jakarta, Indonesia.

But for KOPMEH and UMATY GLOBAL, the signing of the MoU is not intended to be the destination. It is the starting point.

A Gateway into the Indonesian Market

Through this collaboration, KOPMEH sees UMATY GLOBAL as an important strategic connection in developing a gateway for Malaysian cooperatives and businesses seeking to understand and explore the Indonesian market, particularly for halal products, Muslim-oriented products and related services.

Indonesia offers significant opportunities, but entering a large neighbouring market requires more than simply finding a buyer or distributor.

Businesses need to understand the market. They need local knowledge, the right networks, suitable partners, market-entry strategies and an understanding of how business is actually conducted on the ground.

This is where the KOPMEH–UMATY GLOBAL collaboration is intended to play a practical role.

UMATY GLOBAL is a Jakarta-based business group with 28 years of local business networks, market knowledge and relationships in Indonesia. Under the MoU, UMATY will support the collaboration through market insights, business connections and introductions to relevant Indonesian stakeholders.

KOPMEH, meanwhile, will work on the Malaysian side to identify, coordinate and connect cooperatives and businesses interested in exploring opportunities in Indonesia.

The collaboration covers areas including market development, business matching, market entry, trade missions, networking, investment and the identification of commercially viable projects between Malaysian and Indonesian businesses.

KOPMEH Calls on Malaysian Cooperatives to Explore Indonesia

KOPMEH is therefore encouraging Malaysian cooperatives, particularly those with market-ready halal and Muslim-oriented products, to begin looking at Indonesia as a potential market for expansion. The opportunity should not be viewed simply as exporting products from Malaysia to Indonesia.

The wider possibilities may include distribution partnerships, agency arrangements, licensing, manufacturing collaboration, e-commerce, joint ventures, technology cooperation and other forms of business collaboration.

For cooperatives that have traditionally concentrated on Malaysia's domestic market, the Indonesia initiative could provide an opportunity to begin understanding what is required to move into cross-border business.

However, KOPMEH believes that businesses should enter a new market with knowledge and preparation — not assumptions. And that will form the basis of the first initiative following the MoU.

FIRST INITIATIVE:

“ENTERING THE INDONESIAN MARKET — BETWEEN MYTHS AND REALITIES”

As an initial follow-up to the MIHAS 2026 MoU, KOPMEH and UMATY GLOBAL are planning an introductory workshop tentatively titled:

ENTERING THE INDONESIAN MARKET - BETWEEN MYTHS AND REALITIES

The workshop is being designed as a practical introduction for Malaysian cooperatives, entrepreneurs and businesses interested in exploring opportunities in Indonesia. Rather than presenting Indonesia merely as a large market, the programme aims to help participants better understand the realities of entering and operating in the country.

Among the areas expected to be explored are market expectations, local business practices, potential routes to market, partnerships and distribution, regulatory considerations, halal and product requirements, as well as some of the common perceptions Malaysian businesses may have about entering Indonesia.

The central question is simple:

What do Malaysian businesses think they know about Indonesia, and what is the reality on the ground?

Further details on the workshop, including the date, venue, speakers and participation arrangements, will be announced by KOPMEH and UMATY GLOBAL.

From MIHAS to MyHalalEcosystem

This initiative also demonstrates the role KOPMEH intends MyHalalEcosystem.com (MHE) to play. MHE is being developed not merely as another business directory, but as a post-event ecosystem connector.

• A meeting at MIHAS could lead to a workshop.
• A workshop could lead to market readiness.
• Market readiness could lead to business matching.
• Business matching could lead to a distributor, partner or commercial project.

In other words:

Event → Connection → Knowledge → Business Matching → Market Access → Economic Activity

That is the idea behind the Beyond the Event. Into the Economy.

MIHAS creates an extraordinary concentration of international business connections. The challenge, and opportunity - is to ensure that valuable connections continue to develop after the event itself. Through MHE, KOPMEH wants to help create that continuity.

Why Indonesia First?

Indonesia represents a natural starting point for this cross-border initiative. Malaysia and Indonesia share close geographical, cultural and economic ties, while both countries form important parts of the wider Muslim and halal economy. Yet proximity should not be mistaken for identical markets.

Understanding those similarities and differences will be important for Malaysian cooperatives and entrepreneurs seeking to establish sustainable business relationships in Indonesia. That is also why the first programme will focus on myths and realities, before moving towards business matching and market-entry activities.

MuslimpreneursTV: Bringing the Market Conversation to Entrepreneurs

MuslimpreneursTV is being repositioned as the official media platform of KOPMEH and MyHalalEcosystem.com. Its role will go beyond reporting events. MuslimpreneursTV will follow the journey, from market education and entrepreneur stories to business matching, cross-border opportunities and the development of actual collaborations.

Together, the three components serve complementary functions:

KOPMEH

Network & Economic Enabler

MyHalalEcosystem.com

Digital Ecosystem & Market Connector

MuslimpreneursTV

Media & Communication Platform

The MoU Is Only the Beginning For KOPMEH and UMATY GLOBAL, the success of this collaboration will ultimately not be determined by the MoU signing ceremony. The real measure will be what comes afterwards.

• Can more Malaysian cooperatives understand the Indonesian market?
• Can Malaysian halal products find appropriate routes into Indonesia?
• Can entrepreneurs find reliable partners?
• Can introductions develop into sustainable commercial relationships?
• And can Malaysia and Indonesia create more opportunities together within the wider halal economy?

The first step has been taken at MIHAS 2026. The next step is entering the market with knowledge, networks and the right partners.

Interested Malaysian cooperatives and entrepreneurs are invited to follow MuslimpreneursTV and MyHalalEcosystem.com for announcements on:

ENTERING THE INDONESIAN MARKET - BETWEEN MYTHS AND REALITIES. Coming Soon!

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MY HALAL ECOSYSTEM

Beyond the Event. Into the Economy.

Connecting businesses, opportunities and markets across the global halal economy.