Baku, Azerbaijan, 8 October 2024 - The Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum (AZHAB Forum) is being held for the first time in Baku on October 8-9, 2024. Organized by the Ministry of Economy, the State Tourism Agency, and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA) of Azerbaijan, the forum is supported by several key international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), SESRIC, and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD).
The event brings together over 200 participants from more than 20 countries, including government officials, experts, academics, and representatives from international organizations and businesses. The two-day forum aimed to foster cooperation in investment and trade within the halal industry, encourage the exchange of ideas, and showcase halal products and services through an exhibition. Key discussions are taking place on sustainability in the halal sector, the role of SMEs, and developing the halal ecosystem in the CIS region.
Representing the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek, IOFS Program Manager, actively engaged in discussions and held several working meetings with key stakeholders, including AZHAB Azerbaijan, KOBİA Azerbaijan, PAFN Kuwait, Globothink Australia, the Silicon Valley Institute of Climate Change, the International Islamic Institute of Halal, and representatives from Pakistan and Malaysia. Mr. Arystanbek introduced IOFS’s initiatives, highlighting its pivotal work in supporting the halal ecosystem within OIC member states. The organization is aligning its efforts with the OIC Science, Technology & Innovation Agenda 2026 by spearheading the OIC Healthy, Halal, and Safe Food Ecosystem initiative, which addresses critical challenges such as food traceability, inconsistencies in dietary laws, the nutritional impact of GMOs, and food waste.
Through targeted workshops and capacity-building programs, this initiative promotes a "From gene to fork" approach, ensuring the production of safe, nutritious food while fostering regional cooperation and regulatory harmonization. Key achievements to date include raising awareness of food safety and advanced technologies, as well as developing the Tayib methodology, which has been integrated into the IOFS Database and contributes to Food Security Indexes. Looking ahead to 2025, IOFS plans to deliver essential activities such as the Food Security Overview in OIC Member States, the World Halal Day landmark event, a Workshop on GMO Regulations, and Food Loss and Waste Assessments focusing on critical food gap commodities.
The Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum concluded on 9 October, and the meetings and discussions held during the event are to further enhance its efforts in supporting the development of the halal industry in OIC member states.
