Algiers, Algeria: – The Halal Economic Leadership Forum (HELF) 2025, held today at the Centre International de Conferences Algiers – Abdelatif Rahal in Algiers, Algeria, successfully convened global leaders, industry pioneers, policymakers, and key stakeholders in the Halal economy to chart a collaborative path for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Jointly hosted by the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) – an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) through its Center of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur (IsDB KLCoE), and Halal Products Development Company (HPDC) – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) established to localize the halal production industry in Saudi Arabia, the forum focused on advancing the global Halal agenda by strengthening trade, innovation, and cross-border partnerships within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and beyond.

It was part of IsDB’s Private Sector Forum organized in conjunction with its Group Annual Meeting.

With the global Halal economy valued at over USD 3 trillion, the forum highlighted Africa’s growing prominence as both a consumer and producer hub, with an estimated over 540 million Muslims — nearly 40% of the global Muslim population — residing in the continent. Many of these markets are underserved in key Halal sectors such as food manufacturing, personal care, pharmaceuticals, Islamic finance, and Halal logistics.

The forum was attended by His Excellency Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan Ambassador of Malaysia to Algeria, representing Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, The Hon. Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.  Also attended were His Excellency  Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Secretary General of Treasury, Malaysia,  His Excellency Dr. Issa Faye, Director General of Global Practices and Partnership at IsDB and HDC’s CEO Hairol Ariffein Sahari.

Quoting Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul’s speech, delivered by H.E. Rizani Izwan, he expressed his delight in noting that the previous forum had yielded significant and tangible outcomes — including strengthened global collaboration, new investments, and expanded market opportunities across OIC member states and beyond.

Malaysia’s Halal exports to Algeria surged to RM156.3 million in 2024, a 24% increase from the previous year. These exports span a wide range of products including food and beverages, cosmetics, halal-certified ingredients, and palm oil derivatives.

Tengku Zafrul reiterated Malaysia’s commitment in supporting initiatives that facilitate trade, develop industries, and expand market access for halal enterprises. This include deepening collaboration with Algeria and OIC member states to harness the full potential of the halal economy and create a future that is more inclusive, equitable and prosperous for all.

The need for collective action to ensure the Halal economy remains resilient amid shifting global trade and geopolitical trends. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to deepen collaboration with Algeria and fellow OIC nations to strengthen supply chains, facilitate market access, and drive socio-economic progress.

On his part, Dr. Issa Faye, as well as Mr. Samer Elesawi, Head of the IsDB KLCoE urged member countries to take a more active role in global halal value chains, amid ongoing shortages in halal-certified raw materials and end-products. In response, the development of dedicated halal industrial zones integrated by infrastructures and infostructures will be introduced in the participating IsDB member countries to boost production, support entrepreneurship, and drive innovation — strengthening halal economies and enhancing global competitiveness.

The forum facilitated several bilateral engagements, with discussions centered around:

• Joint Halal certification recognition and streamlining compliance to support smoother trade flows between Malaysia and North African markets.
• Investment opportunities in Halal industrial zones and logistics infrastructure across Africa, supported by Malaysia’s expertise in Halal ecosystem development.
• Capacity-building initiatives to support SMEs and certification agencies in Algeria and other OIC countries, leveraging Malaysia’s Halal training, financing facilities and technical support.

HELF remains as a recurring strategic platform to connect stakeholders and unlock commercial value across the Halal supply chain. The 2025 forum follows the success of the inaugural HELF held in Riyadh during the IsDB’s Golden Jubilee in 2024, which laid the groundwork for deeper Halal economic integration across OIC member states.