LIHAS 2026 Targets 30,000 Visitors In Langkawi Debut This November

ALOR SETAR (Kedah,Malaysia) Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Langkawi International Halal Showcase 2026 (LIHAS 2026) is targeting around 30,000 visitors when it debuts at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), Langkawi, from Nov 5 to 8.

LIHAS Secretariat chief operating officer Shazzwan Shawaluddin said the event, themed Business Meets Nature, will serve as an international trade platform bringing together halal industry players to promote products, expand commercial networks and explore new market opportunities.

“LIHAS combines business and tourism in a comprehensive halal platform. The showcase will strengthen collaboration between local and international businesses through trade exhibitions, business matching sessions, networking programmes and industry knowledge-sharing activities.

“A wide range of programmes has been lined up throughout the event, and we hope both tourists and local visitors will turn out in large numbers to support this inaugural showcase in Langkawi,” he told reporters Tuesday.

Shazzwan said Langkawi was chosen as the host venue after overseas exhibitors expressed interest in experiencing a different side of Malaysia beyond its major cities.

“Many exhibitors who regularly participate in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) told us they wanted to experience more than Kuala Lumpur's urban landscape. They wanted to discover another side of Malaysia, which is why we selected Langkawi, renowned for its natural beauty,” he said.

“LIHAS will be held in Langkawi every two years. In years when the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) takes place, the showcase will be hosted in another state,” he said.

Shazzwan also expressed hope that the Kedah government, together with relevant agencies and departments, would continue supporting the event to ensure its programmes are successfully delivered, particularly for entrepreneurs and international exhibitors.

-- BERNAMA