RIYADH: The Halal Economy Leadership Forum (HELF) 2024 is set to kickstart tomorrow, will focus on innovation, sustainability and market expansion within the halal economy.
HELF 2024, jointly hosted by Halal Development Corporation Bhd (HDC), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Saudi Arabia’s Halal Product Development Company (HPDC), in conjunction with the IsDB’s Private Sector Forum (PSF) 2024 in Riyadh from April 28-30, will take place at InterContinental Riyadh.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz will deliver a special address, followed by speeches from organisational leaders, a panel discussion and an announcement of the halal ecosystem-building programme between IsDB, HDC and HPDC.
HDC chairman Khairul Azwan Harun said the forum serves as a platform for robust dialogue, knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration aimed at shaping the future of the halal economy.
“We will see a panel session to discuss on potentials and features of the halal economy within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries and its respective marketplaces.
“In addition, the government’s mandate on the halal economy will also be shared during HELF 2024, aiming to promote our sustainable halal ecosystem for emulation in other countries, especially in the 57 member countries of OIC,” he told Bernama today.
He noted that Malaysia has a long-established halal ecosystem and in terms of its ecosystem and certification, Malaysia has been number one for the past 10 consecutive years.
Therefore, Azwan said many countries can seize the opportunity to learn from Malaysia’s vast experience in the halal economy as well as its halal-related policy and masterplan which has put Malaysia in the global halal ecosystem.
“We have been the major reference point for many halal markets around the world. As such, HDC has been mandated by the government to continue our good efforts, especially in introducing value-creation in other nations as far as the halal economy is concerned.
“It is about helping the respective nations to develop the halal ecosystem and allow them to also have a robust halal industry. We foresee that many OIC member countries participating globally in the halal supply chain will help improve their country’s gross domestic product (GDP) progressively,” he said.
The inaugural leadership forum is expected to help accelerate collaboration between the IsDB, HPDC and HDC in developing and integrating the halal ecosystem between member countries.
The outcome of the collaboration is to offer IsDB member countries and non-member countries the best solutions in the Halal Ecosystem Development and Enablement, including utilising financial instruments available to address intra-trade deficits and capitalise on potential markets.
The forum will also see a Thought Leadership Session titled “Pioneering a Sustainable Future in the Halal Economy” moderated by Dinar Standards chief executive officer (CEO) Rafi-uddin Shikoh.
The Thought Leadership Session features HDC’s CEO Hairol Ariffein Sahari, IsDB’s vice-president Mansur Muhtar, HPDC’s CEO Fahad S. AlNuhait and Durham University Business School’s professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Political Economy and Finance Mehmet Asutay.
Around 350 participants are expected to delve into key topics such as market trends, regulatory frameworks, consumer preferences, and technological advancements, charting a course toward a more inclusive, ethical, and prosperous halal economy on a global scale. – BERNAMA
