Indonesia unveils first D-8 Halal Expo, eyes $500B trade goal

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia on Wednesday launched the inaugural D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia in Jakarta, seeking to deepen halal trade and investment as the Developing Eight (D-8) aims to increase intra-bloc trade to US$500 billion by 2030.

The five-day event, which runs from July 8 to 12, brings together businesses, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen halal trade, investment, and value chains among D-8 members while expanding access to international markets.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta said the expo reflects Indonesia's commitment as D-8 chair to bolster national economic growth by deepening economic integration with the Islamic world through the halal economy.

"Amid global economic challenges, Indonesia continues to pursue national economic growth. One way to achieve this is by strengthening Indonesia's economic integration with the Islamic world, including through the development of the halal economy," Anis said in a written statement.

Held under the theme "Strengthening D-8 Halal Economy Through International Collaboration," the expo aims to become a key platform for business networking, investment partnerships, and policy discussions across the halal industry.

The expo showcases businesses in sectors including food and beverages, cosmetics, fashion, pharmaceuticals, tourism, finance, and digital services. Indonesia expects the initiative to strengthen economic partnerships and expand business-to-business cooperation, supporting the D-8's target of increasing intra-bloc trade to US$500 billion by 2030.

D-8 Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood welcomed Indonesia's initiative to host the organization's first halal expo, describing it as a catalyst for stronger private-sector collaboration.

Mahmood said the event is expected to boost intra-D-8 trade and investment, strengthen research and capacity building, and expand cooperation across the halal economic ecosystem.

The expo features trade exhibitions, business matching sessions, and panel discussions through the D-8 HEI Talks, bringing together government officials, investors, and business representatives from D-8 countries.

Organizers said the event has attracted exhibitors, buyers, and visitors from D-8 member states as well as the Netherlands, Djibouti, India, Palestine, France, Uzbekistan, and Jordan.

Executive Director of the National Committee for Sharia Economy and Finance (KNEKS) Sholahudin Al Aiyub said the expo was designed to generate tangible business partnerships through matchmaking between exporters and importers.

Indonesia aims to facilitate business partnerships, knowledge exchanges, and concrete trade transactions through the initiative, he added.

The expo also reflects President Prabowo Subianto's commitment at the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo on Dec. 19, 2024, to strengthen global halal value chains and position Indonesia as one of the world's leading halal economy hubs.

Established in 1997, the D-8 promotes economic cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Azerbaijan became its ninth full member after completing ratification of the D-8 Charter on March 19, 2025. The organization represents about 1.3 billion people, or 16 percent of the world's population, with a combined gross domestic product of around US$5.1 trillion.

Indonesia currently chairs the organization for the 2026-2027 term, having previously led the bloc from 2006 to 2008, when members signed the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement in Bali. Since the agreement entered into force in June 2024, Indonesian exporters have utilized it for shipments valued at approximately US$36.4 million.

Beyond expanding trade, D-8 cooperation also aims to strengthen the halal ecosystem through cross-border investment, industrial collaboration, and innovation, enabling halal products and services to become more deeply integrated into global value chains.

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Translator: Yashinta Difa, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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