“Makkah Halal Forum” was successful and memorable in terms of investment opportunities of Azerbaijan and presentation of our national brands

The “Makkah Halal Forum” held on January 23-25 in the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia was successful and memorable in terms of investment opportunities of Azerbaijan and the presentation of our national brands. The Makkah Halal forum was launched today, under the slogan “innovation in the halal industry”, under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by organizing the partners of the five-year benefits agreement (Makkah Chamber, Medina chamber, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and development, Jeddah Chamber, Taif Chamber) along with the Islamic Chamber for halal services (ICHS), in strategic partnership with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and quality organization and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Delegations from 57 member states of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and development took an active part in the highly organized forum-exhibition. 3,000 visitors from more than 100 countries attended the exhibition in the center of Makkah.

Azerbaijan Confederation of Entrepreneurs represented our country at this exhibition. The delegation led by the president of the confederation, Mammad Musayev, was distinguished by its active participation in the Forum and the exhibition.

As part of the visit, the Deputy Emir of the Holy Makkah Al-Mukarrama region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, greeted the heads of the delegations. The president of the confederation conveyed the greetings and respect of the leadership of the republic and gave information about the investment opportunities in our country and the prospects of mutual trade relations with Islamic countries.

In total, more than 10 panels and 250 bilateral and multilateral meetings were held at the Forum, where discussions were held on the importance of halal certification, the latest standards, halal products and services, as well as regulatory frameworks to ensure the safety and authenticity of halal foods. The sessions included extensive discussions on the possibilities of attracting Muslim travelers to halal tourism, promoting destinations that meet their cultural and religious needs, as well as halal investment tools, including Islamic banking, sukuk and development.

There were also presentations on halal cosmetics and personal care topics, ingredients, production processes and marketing strategies, emphasizing the demand for halal cosmetics and personal care products.

Through various sessions, the guests of the forum touched upon topics in the areas of halal medicine and healthcare, healthcare services and medical ethics, halal healthcare solutions, halal logistics and supply chain integration, including halal logistics, transportation, storage and distribution while maintaining integrity along the supply chain.

The guests of the forum in the field of Halal Digital Economy emphasized the scale of the intersection of halal and technology, including e-commerce platforms, digital marketing strategies, blockchain applications, innovative digital solutions in the halal industry, as well as the importance of halal education, research and training programs to develop a skilled workforce, promote innovation and increase knowledge in halal.

Secretary General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and development Yusif Khalawi said that the forum, which started from Mecca, was motivated by the need to hold a major global event that brought together various halal Industry Manufacturers and noted that this year the event, held under the slogan “creativity and innovation in halal industry”, brought together public and private sectors of different countries.

Natavan Mammadova, Secretary General of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan, spoke at the first panel of the forum. He talked about the prospects of applying halal standards in Azerbaijan, the work done in this field, especially the relations established with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and he pointed to the favorable geographical position of our country, which borders large Muslim countries. Especially considering that it has the same roots as 70 million Muslims living in Central Asia, and also that it is located in the South Caucasus, where about 30 million Muslim peoples living in the territory of Russia are more concentrated, he proposed to consider Azerbaijan as a “Halal destination” in this geography.

In particular, the Azerbaijani stand at the Makkah Halal Exhibition attracted great interest with its variety and form of presentation. ASK and KOBIA stands operating under the flag of Azerbaijan were the stands most visited by the exhibition participants. Food and non-food products were exhibited at the stands. Videos reflecting the economy of Azerbaijan and the fascinating nature of our country have attracted great attention.

According to a report on the reality of the global Islamic economy, worldwide consumer spending on halal products is expected to reach $2.4 trillion in 2024.

The Islamic finance sector leads the list, followed by the food and beverage sector, pharmaceutical and medical, health and cosmetic preparations, as well as travel and tourism and other halal industrial products and services. Other sectors include education and health.