World Halal Summit and Halal Expo open in Istanbul

Turkey

Event highlights innovation, unified standards and a global halal market now exceeding $8 trillion

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.”