Image credit: HDC
KUALA LUMPUR: Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) is strengthening Malaysia's halal talent pipeline through its Halal Community of Practice (HCoP) Framework, which aims to produce competent, certified, and industry-ready professionals.
The framework, a collaborative initiative led by HDC, with participation from industry players, academia, regulators, industry players, and students.
It is designed to streamline and elevate the national halal talent ecosystem, ensuring Malaysia continues to supply a strong and future-ready workforce.
HDC chief industry development officer Hanisofian Alias said the long-term goals are not only to meet domestic needs but also to and position Malaysia as an global exporter of halal expertise.
He noted that many countries have expressed interest in partnering with Malaysia, and a strengthened talent structure will enhance the nation's international standing.
He added that the government is studying the establishment of a Majlis Profesional Halal, similar to chartered bodies for accountants or engineers, to govern the framework at a national level.
Hanisofian said a permanent governing body is considered essential to ensure the framework's long-term sustainability.
"A more structured pipeline ensures companies gain better access to competent, certified and industry-ready professionals. This contributes to higher compliance, improved productivity and increased market competitiveness.
"At the national level,The HCoP Framework reinforces Malaysia's position as a trusted halal leader, not just in certification and infrastructure but also in human capital excellence. It also supports the aspiration to establish a Majlis Profesional Halal to formalise and elevate halal practitioners as a recognised professional community," he told Business Times.
Hanisofian said the framework supports the Halal Industry Master Plan (HIMP) 2030 under Strategic Thrust 3 to establish a larger pool oh Halal experts and professionals to meet global needs, and aims to close long-standing gaps in talent development, positioning Malaysia as a leader in global halal excellence.
According to him, the framework is anchored on three key objectives, namely assessing whether supply meets industry demand; ensuring talent quality, competence, and workplace readiness; and setting a clear and progressive career pathway for halal professionals.
He added that the framework will introduce eight strategic interventions to strengthen the halal ecosystem.
These include aligning halal education programmes by linking curricula in higher education institutions with real industry needs, strengthening halal talent training programmes by updating them to reflect evolving standards and technology, and reviewing halal professional standards to establish clear benchmarks for halal talent, experts and professional categories.
"Furthermore, We will also implement business-based talent onboarding to accelerate fresh graduate entry through industry-embedded learning. A halal talent data aggregator will centralise information across institutions and industry for planning, analysis and policy decisions," said Hanisofian.
"Expansion of halal professional board will enhance the current institutions to better support evolving industry needs, talent mobility and sector-wide communication." Hanisofian said.
He noted that the framework will support the national halal practitioners association by promoting professional recognition, development and advocacy, as well as the Halal Industry Student Adoption (HISA) Programme, which provides early exposure to undergraduates as future talent.
Hanisofian said the HCoP Framework addresses structural challenges in the halal talent landscape, such as fragmented industry-academia collaboration, inconsistent training standards, unclear professional pathways and limited data on talent supply and demand.
He said graduates often lack hands-on exposure, and employers face difficulty securing talent with the right competencies.
"From 2017 to 2024, approximately 24,000 halal-related personnel entered the talent pool. This signals strong output, but also underscores the need to carefully balance graduate numbers with market needs and ensuring skills are aligned with job requirements.
"The HCoP Framework directly addresses these gaps, helping the industry secure skilled, relevant and job-ready talent." he added.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2025/12/1334737/hcop-boost-halal-ecosystem