Indonesia embassy promotes D-8 halal economy

Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) and the Bangladesh Jute Association held a business dialogue with Representatives of the economic section of the Embassy of Indonesia in Dhaka, together with the secretariat of the Indonesia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) n Khulna on Monday.

The meeting, held at the BFFEA conference room, focused on strengthening bilateral trade ties and promoting participation in the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia 2026, scheduled to take place from July 8 to 12, 2026, at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Complex in Jakarta.

Among those present were members of the Indonesian Embassy’s economic team, former Chairman and Director of the Bangladesh Jute Association Md Farhad Ahmed Akand Pompi, prominent jute businessman Zia Uddin Ahmed, BFFEA directors Humayun Kabir, Md Jalal Uddin, Md Shafiullah Khan, Syed Badruzzaman, Syed Mohammad Ishtiaq, ATM Fazlul Haque, and other leaders of the business community.

Speakers highlighted the theme, “Strengthening the D-8 Halal Economy through International Collaboration,” describing the global halal economy as a key driver of inclusive growth, trade diversification, and sustainable development. They said the D-8 member states possess significant opportunities across sectors including food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, tourism, logistics, and Islamic finance.

The participants noted that the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia 2026 aligns with the organisation’s 10-year roadmap by fostering greater economic cooperation, private-sector engagement, and sustainable development. The event is expected to strengthen intra-D-8 trade, facilitate business networking, attract investment, and promote knowledge-sharing among businesses, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Now in its sixth edition, the expo will also serve as an official side event of the 2026 D-8 Summit. Speakers said the initiative aims to reinforce the halal economy as a practical platform for cooperation among the bloc’s member states, which together represent a market of more than 1.2 billion people.