Ankara / Anadolu

The Halal Expo 2026, organized for the first time by the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, kicked off on Thursday in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

According to a statement from the organization, the expo, titled 'Halal Expo 2026 – Indonesia,' officially opened with the participation of officials, diplomats, and representatives from member states.

The five-day expo is held under the theme 'Strengthening the Halal Economy in D-8 Countries Through International Cooperation,' bringing together ministers, senior officials, businesspeople, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Secretary-General of the organization, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, stated in a video message that Indonesia plays a leading role in developing the halal economy, welcoming the proposal to make the expo an annual event.

Mahmood noted that the eight member states have a combined population of over 1.28 billion and a GDP exceeding $5 trillion.

He explained that Muslim-majority economies still hold a limited share in the global halal sector's value chains.

Mahmood proposed launching a halal trade corridor for member states, a digital halal market, and a joint investment platform, along with cooperation projects in research, innovation, biotechnology, and food technology.

The expo includes international exhibitions, investment forums, business sessions, and specialized dialogues to enhance economic cooperation among member states.

The organization's founding members include Turkey, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan, making it a framework that brings together major economies of the Islamic world.

The organization aims to enhance the position of member states in the global economy, create new opportunities in trade relations, increase their participation in international decision-making mechanisms, as well as support the development of alternative and renewable energy sources.