Digitalisation and the Halal Economy – Malaysian Ambassador delivers talk as part of Sapientia et Eloquentia: The Ambassador Lecture Series

On 26 September 2024, His Excellency Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to the Republic of the Philippines, delivered a lecture on 60 years of Philippine-Malaysia relations at Ateneo de Manila University's PLDT Convergent Technologies Center. The lecture was part of the Office of University Partnerships and Internationalization's "Sapientia et Eloquentia: The Ambassador Lecture Series."

Before the lecture, H E Castelino paid a quick courtesy visit to Ateneo de Manila University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ. Accompanying the Ambassador were Ms Nadhira Mohammad Zanudin, Counsellor at the Embassy of Malaysia; and Ms Nurfarahliza Putri Naaim Yazid, Counsellor at the Embassy of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, alongside Fr Yap were Ms Ma Cristina M Alikpala, Assistant Vice President for University Partnerships and Internationalization; Ms Genalyn Sanvictores, Ateneo Junior High School Principal; Ms Rosanna Borja, Ateneo Senior High School Principal; Dr Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, Dean of the School of Social Sciences; Dr Patricia Angela R Abu, Chair of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science; Mr Leofel Vergara, Ateneo JGSOM Department of Leadership and Strategy; Ms Sharon Grace S Yabut, Head, Executive Education Program, Ateneo School of Government; Dr Violet Valdez, Director of the Ateneo Center for Asian Studies; Ms Karen C Sunico, Director for Partnerships and Engagement; Ms Carolyn Pile Natividad, PhD (Cand), Director for Internationalization at Home; Mr Javier Rico Israel R Tionloc, Ateneo European Studies faculty.

For his lecture, H E Castelino focused on the friendship between Malaysia and the Philippines, paying attention to both the cultural similarities and economic ties that have helped bring both nations closer together.

As part of this, he explained how the digital economy and halal industry held immense potential for both the Philippines and Malaysia. He noted how the growth of the global Islamic economy was being driven by a large, fast-growing Muslim population empowered by digital connectivity, and that this growth was something both countries could take advantage of.

To further his point, he gave examples of how Malaysia's halal exports to the world have grown in recent years, and how many countries have also set up halal manufacturing hubs in Malaysia.

Aiding this is Malaysia's increased digitalisation, which is helping more Muslim consumers find the halal products they need.

Following the lecture, H E Castelino and the students engaged in a lively open forum with the Ambassador providing insightful answers to the students' questions. Beyond that, before he left, some of the students took time to take photos with the Ambassador.