First International Halal Forum to be held at CEPEX on Sept. 29 and 30

Tunisia will host the first International Halal Forum on Sept. 29 and 30 at the Centre for the Promotion of Exports, or CEPEX. FIBGN Global Business Network is organizing the event in coordination with CEPEX.

The forum is intended to serve as a platform for developing, certifying, financing and trading halal industries across Africa, the Gulf, Asia and Europe. Organizers say it will seek concrete exchanges and partnerships, strengthen African halal value chains and expand cooperation with international halal markets.

The event will be held under the auspices of Tunisia’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development, with participation from the Islamic Organization for Metrology and Standards, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade and Tunisia’s National Institute of Standardization and Industrial Property, known as INNORPI.

Government officials, halal standardization and certification bodies, financial institutions, business leaders, strategic investors and other regional and international industry participants are expected to attend. The program will include high-level plenary sessions, specialized panels, workshops, structured business-to-business and institutional meetings, and an exhibition featuring halal products, solutions and initiatives with cooperation potential.

INNORPI Director General Nafaa Boutiti said in April 2026 that consumer spending in halal sectors totals about $2.4 trillion and could reach $3.1 trillion by the end of 2027. He said halal now extends beyond food to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism, hospitality and clothing. Tunisia had about 40 certified halal companies in 2024, mainly in food processing and cosmetics, while CEPEX data showed that dates and olive oil account for more than 30% of certified halal products. FIBGN operates a matchmaking network through business-to-business meetings to support internationalization and access to global markets.