D-8 chief calls for deeper halal economic integration as Indonesia hosts Inaugural Expo

The Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) officially opened its first-ever Halal Expo in Jakarta on 8 July, with the bloc's Secretary-General calling for deeper economic integration among member states to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing global halal economy.

The five-day event, themed "Strengthening D-8 Halal Economy Through International Collaboration," drew ministers, senior officials, business leaders, investors and halal industry stakeholders from across the D-8 region. The opening ceremony was presided over by Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta, alongside representatives from Indonesia's National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS), the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH), and ambassadors from D-8 member states.

In a video message, D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood congratulated Indonesia on hosting the inaugural expo and welcomed proposals to make it an annual fixture, as well as to host a new D-8 Halal Economy Cooperation Secretariat. He said such steps would strengthen the organization's institutional framework and boost policy coordination, private-sector engagement and intra-D-8 trade.

Mahmood noted that the D-8, which represents more than 1.28 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding $5 trillion — has the complementary strengths needed to become a globally competitive hub for halal production, trade and innovation. He said that despite rapid growth in the global halal economy across food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, healthcare, tourism, logistics, Islamic finance and digital commerce, Muslim-majority countries continue to capture only a limited share of global halal value chains.

Closing that gap, he said, will require greater regional integration, industrial competitiveness and innovation. He linked the halal sector to the D-8's Decennial Roadmap 2020–2030, which targets $500 billion in intra-D-8 trade by the end of the decade.

To advance that goal, Mahmood proposed three initiatives: an Integrated D-8 Halal Trade Corridor to harmonize halal standards and certification, streamline customs cooperation and establish dedicated logistics corridors; a D-8 Digital Halal Marketplace and Investment Platform to connect manufacturers, SMEs, investors and certification bodies; and expanded joint investment in halal industrial parks, biotechnology, food technology, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, blockchain-based traceability and sustainable manufacturing.

He reaffirmed the D-8 Secretariat's commitment to working with Indonesia, member states and private-sector partners to turn these proposals into concrete programs.

Indonesian officials at the ceremony emphasized the country's role as a leading center of the global halal economy and highlighted the importance of cooperation on standards, certification, trade facilitation and investment. Over the course of the expo, organizers plan to hold international exhibitions, business-matching sessions, investment forums and thematic discussions spanning halal food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, Islamic finance, tourism and digital services.

The D-8, founded to promote cooperation among developing Muslim-majority economies, includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye.