Indonesia Boosts Global Halal Ecosystem with D-8 Cooperation

Indonesia is actively working to build a robust global halal ecosystem, aiming to capitalize on the growing demand for halal products worldwide. The nation is hosting the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia (HEI) 2026 in Jakarta from July 8-12, an event designed to foster economic cooperation among the Developing Eight (D-8) member countries.

The expo tackles the persistent issue of fragmented global halal supply chains. Challenges exist across various stages, including sourcing raw materials, production, certification, logistics, and distribution. This lack of integration hinders optimal growth in trade, investment, and value creation within the sector. As the D-8 chair for 2026-2027, Indonesia is leveraging the expo to enhance economic collaboration among its members.

Under the theme "Strengthening the D-8 Halal Economy Through International Collaboration," the D-8 HEI brings together businesses, investors, regulators, and research institutions. The event features trade activities, business matching sessions, panel discussions, and business meetings involving D-8 member states and partner countries. The D-8, established in 1997, initially comprised Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Nigeria, with Azerbaijan joining as the ninth member in late 2024.

Collectively, the D-8 nations represent a significant economic bloc with a population of approximately 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of around $5.1 trillion. This potential is being harnessed to expand trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. The member states have set an ambitious target of achieving $500 billion in internal trade by 2030. Strengthening the halal industry, encompassing sectors like food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fashion, tourism, Islamic finance, and digital services, is a key strategy to reach this goal. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta stated that Indonesia is pushing for the D-8 to become a new global halal economic powerhouse by deepening economic integration with the Islamic world. This aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to strengthening the halal economic network and positioning Indonesia as a global halal economic hub.