Experts urge strategic focus to tap global halal market

Bangladesh should focus on strategic planning, quality production, and effective marketing to tap the potential for grabbing the huge global market of Halal-certified products, which is estimated at $3.3 trillion.

All stakeholders to the production and marketing of such products should work in coordination to boost the country's export earnings.

Experts made the suggestions at a workshop on 'Halal Market, Production Methods, and Certification Process' organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) at its office in the city's Tejgaon area on Saturday, says a statement.

Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Md Obaidur Rahman was present as the chief guest while BCI President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) presided over the event.

Bangladesh Competition Commission's former director Khalid Abu Naser, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) S. M. Abu Sayed, and its Assistant Director Rebeka Sultana were present as discussants while BCI Secretary General Dr Helal Uddin moderated the workshop. Some 22 representatives of different stakeholders organisations took part in the workshop.

Addressing the participants, Mr Obaidur Rahman said the global halal market is one of the fastest-growing sectors.

"Not only Muslims, but non-Muslim consumers are also showing interest in halal products due to their health and safety assurances," he said, adding that the concept of 'Halal' now spans beyond food to cosmetics, medicines, clothing, tourism, and many other sectors.

The largest consumer countries of halal merchandise include Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, with demand rising in Europe, he said.

He also said Muslim-majority Bangladesh has enormous potential for halal product exports.