Seminar on “Halal Ecosystem in the ASEAN Region

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a seminar titled “Halal Ecosystem in the ASEAN Region: Opportunities for Bangladesh” on 12 August 2026 at the BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka.

Mr Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the seminar as the Chief Guest. The session was chaired by Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General, BIISS, who also delivered the welcome address.

Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, delivered the keynote presentation titled “Halal Ecosystem in the ASEAN Region: Opportunities and Way Forward.” The panel discussion featured Dr AKM Badrul Ahsan, Director (In Charge), Halal Certification, Bangladesh Islamic Foundation, and S M Abu Sayed, Deputy Director (Halal Certification), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), as panellists.

In his welcome address, the Director General of BIISS highlighted the rapidly growing global demand for Halal-certified products and services. He emphasised the importance of strengthening Bangladesh’s engagement with ASEAN countries and leveraging regional partnerships to expand the country’s trade and economic footprint in the Halal sector.

The Chief Guest underscored the significant potential of the Halal industry to strengthen Bangladesh’s export capacity and contribute to economic growth. He emphasised the importance of aligning Bangladesh’s domestic Halal standards and certification mechanisms with ASEAN regulations to enable local businesses to access the region’s expanding Halal market.

The seminar brought together senior government officials, ambassadors and high commissioners, former diplomats, senior military officials, researchers, business professionals, academics, university students, representatives of think tanks and members of the media. Participants actively took part in the open discussion session, offering valuable insights on policy, certification, standards, trade and regional cooperation.

The seminar provided an important platform for discussing opportunities and challenges in developing Bangladesh’s Halal ecosystem and strengthening its position in the growing ASEAN and global Halal markets. The discussions also highlighted the need for coordinated policy initiatives, internationally recognised certification standards and stronger public-private collaboration to unlock Bangladesh’s potential in the Halal economy.