Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has called for reducing Bangladesh’s reliance on traditional export products and expanding into new and promising sectors. He stressed the importance of building a strong, internationally competitive halal ecosystem by drawing on the experiences of ASEAN countries.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Halal Ecosystem in the ASEAN Region: Prospects for Bangladesh”, organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on Wednesday (August 12).

The commerce minister said the halal economy can no longer be limited to food and beverages. It has evolved into a major global economic system covering food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, modest fashion, tourism, logistics, technology, financing and international certification.

He said, “We must first increase our own production capacity to boost exports. For this, domestic and foreign investment is necessary, and it is essential to ensure a safe and attractive environment for investors.”

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said preferential access to international markets is an important factor in attracting investment. To retain Bangladesh’s export advantages after graduating from the LDC category, initiatives are being taken to pursue free trade agreements (FTAs), preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with various countries.

He also stressed the need for an independent, reliable and internationally recognized halal certification system to capitalize on the global halal market. Such a system, he said, would increase international buyers’ confidence in Bangladeshi products and help the country enter new markets.

Speakers at the seminar said Bangladesh’s export sector has long been heavily dependent on readymade garments. To remain competitive in global trade, the country must diversify both its products and markets. The halal economy could be one of the major areas of opportunity in this regard.

Experts noted that demand for halal products is growing rapidly around the world. Beyond food, halal standards are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, tourism and lifestyle products. Entering this vast market will require an integrated system covering production, quality control and certification.

Malaysia’s halal ecosystem was highlighted as a model Bangladesh could follow. Speakers said Malaysia has transformed halal from simply a product category into a comprehensive economic system integrating production, research, certification, marketing and exports.

Speakers also highlighted Bangladesh’s existing strengths, including its large domestic market and strong foundations in agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, leather and apparel. By leveraging these capabilities, Bangladesh could become an important participant in the global halal supply chain.

The seminar identified five strategic priorities for developing an internationally competitive halal sector:

Establish an internationally recognized national halal assurance framework.
Develop specialized halal industry clusters with modern laboratories and advanced logistics facilities.
Upgrade existing production sectors to meet international standards and compete globally.
Engage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), researchers and young entrepreneurs.
Establish the “Bangladesh Halal Brand” in international markets through economic diplomacy.

BIISS Director General Major General A S M Redwanur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while BIISS Research Director Dr. Mahfuz Kabir presented the keynote paper.

Akhtar Hossain, deputy director of the Halal Certification (Livestock) Division of the Islamic Foundation, and S M Abu Saeed, deputy director (Halal Certification) of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), participated in the panel discussion.

Speakers said the halal economy could become a new foundation for Bangladesh’s export sector if the country ensures product quality, safety, transparency and international credibility alongside religious compliance.

They emphasized that government initiatives must be complemented by private investment, international cooperation and an effective halal ecosystem. With coordinated efforts, Bangladesh could move beyond being simply a halal-product exporter and establish itself as an important hub in the global halal market.