Tourexpi
The World Halal Summit and Halal Expo opened on
Wednesday in Istanbul, bringing together international industry leaders under
the theme “Strengthening Halal Industry via Innovation and Excellence.”
Now in its 11th edition, the summit runs from 26 to 29
November under the auspices of the Turkish presidency in partnership with the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Turkish Trade Ministry, the
Halal Accreditation Agency and other institutions. Anadolu serves as the global
communications partner.
Platform for trade, investment and SME growth
This year’s programme includes extensive B2B meetings
designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises enter new markets, expand
export networks and accelerate branding processes. Country business forums will
enable international investors to explore investment opportunities through
presentations and success stories from participating states.
At the opening ceremony, Emre Ete, vice president of
the World Halal Summit Council, emphasised that the halal concept forms a
foundation of justice, trust and human dignity. He noted that halal principles
ensure quality in production, honesty in trade and fairness in international
relations. Increasingly, halal products appeal not only to Muslim consumers but
also to those seeking clean, reliable and ethical goods. The global halal
market, including financial services, has now surpassed $8 trillion.
Sustainable development and unified standards
In a message to the summit, Latifa El Bouabdellaou,
head of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, said closer cooperation
among Islamic countries enhances sustainable economic growth and opens
significant avenues for investment and innovation. She highlighted progress by
the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) in
harmonising technical frameworks, issuing standard specifications and
establishing conformity assessment systems.
“We look forward to further defining sustainable
development targets and building a global halal system capable of thriving in
international markets,” she said.
Three pillars shaping the future of halal
SMIIC Governor Saad Al-Kasabi described rising global
demand as a driver of greater alignment in halal standards and certifications.
He outlined three key pillars of the evolving halal ecosystem:
—
The unification of certifications and precise technical standards to
improve efficiency and reduce duplication.
—
A digital platform for applications, verification and skills
development, linking young professionals and factories worldwide.
—
Adoption of modern industrial and tracking technologies across supply
chains to enhance classification, accuracy and overall product quality.
He noted that consumers increasingly seek products
meeting reliable halal standards, while investors look for strong growth
opportunities. Strengthened regulatory alignment, he said, “could reshape the
future of halal globally.”
Image
Credit: © AA
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