BD seeks Malaysia’s support to develop Halal industrial park

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh has requested Malaysia’s support in setting up a Halal industrial park, aiming to tap into the booming global Halal products market, currently valued at USD 3 trillion and projected to hit USD 5 trillion by 2030.

“Let’s make a move on this,” said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with top Malaysian halal industry officials at his hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, CA office said on Wednesday.

The Malaysian delegation was led by Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah binti Mohd Yusoff, Coordinator of Halal Affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department, and included Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee, Director General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and Hairol Ariffein Sahari, CEO of the Halal Development Corporation (HDC).

Officials highlighted Malaysia’s strong position in the sector, with at least 14 halal industrial parks in operation. Other major players include Middle Eastern countries, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bangladesh, home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population, has significant potential but currently has only 124 manufacturers certified by the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh – the sole halal certification authority in the country.

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA, called on Malaysia to help identify the infrastructure and certification requirements to establish a halal industrial park in Bangladesh, noting strong interest from local companies in exporting halal-certified goods.

Professor Yunus praised the meeting as a “class on halal products” and welcomed the insights shared. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh and Malaysia exchanged a note of cooperation in the halal ecosystem, a move dubbed “halal diplomacy” by officials.

Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee announced that Malaysia would soon send a team to Bangladesh to assess the country’s needs.

Also present were Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, and Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed.