If there's one number from MIHAS 2026's final results most worth celebrating for Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it's this: SME participation at the MIHAS Exhibition jumped from 64 companies in 2021 to 339 companies in 2026 — a 429.7 percent increase over six editions. This growth isn't just about participant numbers, but about the tangible results they're taking home.
According to MATRADE's official post-event press release, Malaysian SMEs recorded RM620 million in sales at MIHAS Exhibition 2026 — up roughly RM63 million, or 11.3 percent, from RM557 million recorded in 2025. This figure is concrete proof that MIHAS isn't just a showcase for large corporations, but a genuine stage generating real transactions for small and medium-scale businesses.
MATRADE CEO Dato' Indera Abu Bakar Yusof affirmed that MIHAS's overall sales growth aligns with increasingly larger opportunities for Malaysian SMEs. "MIHAS 2026 demonstrates that the platform is not only growing in terms of sales, but is also creating greater opportunities for Malaysian businesses, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises, to access international markets," he said. He added that MATRADE remains committed to strengthening SMEs and Mid-Tier Companies (MTCs) to expand into global markets, especially emerging and non-traditional ones.
One factor supporting SMEs' success this year was the integration of Agentic AI technology at MIHAS 2026. Through this technology, more than 22,000 AI-assisted business appointments were facilitated throughout the event — helping Malaysian companies, SMEs included, identify potential buyers, build meaningful business relationships, and pursue new export opportunities even beyond the exhibition floor. Of these, 324 AI-facilitated meetings recorded RM28 million in sales — a figure showing this technology isn't just a gimmick, but genuinely contributes to real business outcomes.
Notably, this support doesn't stop once MIHAS 2026 ends. Through the MADANI Digital Trade Platform (MDTP), MATRADE provides continuous connectivity between Malaysian exporters and global buyers — meaning SMEs who haven't finished negotiations during the four-day exhibition still have room to continue business conversations afterward. The AI platform itself is confirmed to keep operating until 2027, giving SMEs a much longer window to make the most of connections formed at MIHAS.
This SME growth should also be viewed within the context of Malaysia's broader halal export ambitions. Malaysia's halal exports reached RM68.52 billion in 2025, up 10.9 percent from RM61.79 billion in 2024. Under RMK13 (Malaysia's 13th Plan), the government has set a target of RM80 billion in halal export value — a target that underscores just how important SMEs' role is in reaching that figure, given they form the backbone of an economy far more numerous than large corporations.
For Indonesian SMEs considering participating in future editions of MIHAS, these numbers offer a concrete point of consideration: the exhibition has proven to be more than just brand exposure — it genuinely generates real sales for small and medium-scale businesses, backed by technology that keeps working even after the exhibition ends. If the 429.7 percent growth trend over six editions continues, it wouldn't be surprising to see SME participation keep rising significantly in the years ahead, opening up even more cross-border collaboration opportunities.
Moslem Journey will continue following developments among halal SMEs across the region, including participation opportunities at international exhibitions like MIHAS. Stay tuned for full coverage.
