Matrade Launches WiEX for Women-Led Export Growth

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) will be introducing its new Women in Export (WiEX) platform at the 22nd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 to support the growth of women's participation in international trade and boost women-owned and women-led businesses in the international halal market.

The initiative, called WiEX @ MIHAS, will be launched during the upcoming MIHAS 2026 that will be held at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur from 23rd to 26th September 2026. Matrade has announced that the platform has been designed to give women entrepreneurs more access to international markets, networks of business and strategic connections, knowledge sharing and industry recognition.

WiEX @ MIHAS will consist of four interwoven strands. The WiEX Pavilion will provide a specific exhibition area for women entrepreneurs and women businesses under 14 different industry segments and enable them to promote their products/services to international buyers. There will be 80 exhibition booths, 60 of which will be available for Malaysian companies and 20 for international companies.

Key Highlights:

• Matrade to launch WiEX at MIHAS 2026 to empower women exporters
• Platform to offer business matching, networking, and industry recognition
• Initiative supports Malaysia's RM80 billion halal export goal by 2030

It will also feature the International Sourcing Program (INSP) that offers a structured process for matching up exhibitors with international buyers, distributors, retailers and investors. Under the INSP initiative, Matrade will organise 300 international buyers from different countries to attend MIHAS 2026. The agency is also expected to assist over 120 pre-arranged business matching that will allow Malaysian companies attending the WiEX Pavilion to establish export links and access foreign markets, while fostering women-led businesses.

The WiEX Forum @ MIHAS, which is a knowledge sharing platform, will also gather the policymakers, industry experts and successful exporters. The theme of this year's forum is "Thriving Through Uncertainty: How Women Exporters Can Adapt, Compete, and Grow. The following topics will be discussed: coping with shifting trade dynamics, digital technologies and AI, diversifying export markets, and resilient and sustainable businesses.

It will culminate in the Anugerah Wira Ekonomi Wanita (Awards Programme for Women Exports Entrepreneurs) to honour women entrepreneurs for their success in export markets. Awards will be given under three categories: Product Excellence, Service Excellence, and Innovation and Sustainability Excellence. Winners will be given greater visibility on Matrade and MIHAS promotional platforms, profiling opportunities and priority access to selected export promotion programmes.

Empowering women entrepreneurs is crucial in realizing the potential of the halal economy, Matrade Chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said in the comments.

The presence of women entrepreneurs as the main actors in an innovative, quality and market agile halal economy is important, if the women are not part of the economic growth, then the halal economy is not running at full capacity. halogenomics is not just a good policy but also a good economics, he added, every woman who develops through WIEX is bringing us closer towards achieving RM80 billion halal exports by 2030.

More and more women entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in driving innovation, employment generation and economic growth across industries, said Matrade Chief Executive Officer Abu Bakar Yusof.

The WiEX @ MIHAS 2026 is meant to create a business environment, forge strategic alliances, develop capacities and nurture recognition in one platform, he added. He said the mission aims to provide women-owned enterprises with networks, knowledge and market access to build their capacity and ability in exporting to be able to compete effectively in the fast expanding global halal market.