ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (Alliance News): Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof and OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary have agreed to expand their cooperation into a more ambitious, innovation-driven partnership, marking a renewed momentum in regional scientific collaboration.
In their meeting, both sides shifted from routine academic discussions to practical, high-impact areas where joint initiatives could generate immediate results, focusing on modernising the global halal ecosystem and strengthening scientific responses to climate vulnerabilities across the Muslim world.
A key convergence emerged around the future of the halal industry, with both leaders emphasising that its next stage of growth hinges on research-backed standards, technology-enabled certification systems, and advanced training.
Malaysian officials observed that COMSTECH’s extensive network across OIC member states presents a unique opportunity to scale halal innovation beyond regional boundaries.
Healthcare cooperation also featured prominently. With Malaysia’s advanced medical and biotechnology sectors serving as a regional hub, the two sides explored new avenues for specialised training, technology transfer, and institutional partnerships aimed at helping OIC states build stronger, science-led healthcare systems.
Climate resilience, often overlooked in technical discussions, was placed at the centre of the meeting. Both leaders stressed that OIC countries face common climate-related challenges and agreed that scientific collaboration, rather than isolated national strategies, will be essential for long-term sustainability.
The Deputy Prime Minister praised COMSTECH’s expanding role in unifying scientific efforts across Muslim-majority countries, while Dr. Iqbal highlighted Malaysia’s rising stature as an innovation leader capable of shaping the next decade of science diplomacy.
The meeting concluded with a commitment not just to continue cooperation but to accelerate it, signalling a new chapter in which Malaysia and COMSTECH aim to jointly advance science, technology and sustainable development across the OIC region.
