ISTANBUL

The World Halal Summit and Halal Expo opened Wednesday in Istanbul, bringing together global sector participants under the theme “Strengthening Halal Industry via Innovation and Excellence.”

The 11th edition of the summit and expo, held Nov. 26–29, is organized 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 others. Anadolu is serving as the events’ global communications partner.

The program features B2B meetings aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises enter global markets, promote products and expand export networks. Organizers say the meetings help accelerate branding processes and support the wider spread of exports.

Country business forums are also expected to play a key role in boosting foreign direct investment by enabling international investors to learn more about countries’ investment potential through presentations and success stories.

Emre Ete, vice president of the World Halal Summit Council, told the opening ceremony that the concept of halal forms a foundation that protects justice, trust and human dignity.

He said the halal approach ensures quality in production, honesty in trade, trust in social relations and fairness in international relations.

“Halal has become the preferred choice not only among Muslims but also among a broad range of consumers who prefer clean, reliable and ethical products,” he said, adding that the global halal market, including the financial sector, has grown beyond $8 trillion.

Sustainable development

Latifa El Bouabdellaou, head of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, said in a message that cooperation and integration among Islamic countries in the halal sector supports sustainable economic growth and provides major investment and innovation opportunities.

She said the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), guided by the Holy Quran, has made notable progress, with member states working to unify technical frameworks for halal products and services. These efforts include 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 competing and thriving in international markets,” she said.

Three pillars of halal

SMIIC Governor Saad Al-Kasabi said rising global demand is driving greater convergence in halal standards and certifications. The sector, he noted, plays an increasingly influential role in global trade and presents strong opportunities for growth in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

He described three fundamental pillars of the halal ecosystem. The first is unifying certifications and ensuring precise standards -- a step he said improves efficiency, reduces redundancy and gives governments, manufacturers and investors a clearer view of market dynamics.

The second pillar is a digital platform for applications, verification and skills development, connecting young professionals and factories worldwide.

The third is the use of modern industrial and product-tracking technologies across production chains to enhance classification, improve certification accuracy and raise overall quality.

He said consumers seek halal products that meet reliable standards, investors seek new opportunities, and every entity that strengthens regulatory alignment increases its capacity to create value.

“This could reshape the future of halal globally.”