Halal sector key pillar of sustainable economic growth: Sheikh Khalifa

Qatar Chamber recently participated in the ‘Makkah Halal Forum 2025’, hosted by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at its conference and exhibition centre under the theme ‘Sustainable Development Through Halal’.

Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani led a delegation comprising board members Abdulla bin Mohamed al-Emadi, Abdulrahman Abduljaleel al-Abdulghani, and Dr Mohamed bin Jawhar al-Mohamed.

The delegation toured the exhibition held alongside the forum, which featured hundreds of companies showcasing a diverse range of products related to the halal industry and its associated sectors. They explored the exhibits and received briefings from officials at the participating pavilions.

Sheikh Khalifa emphasised that the halal sector is a key pillar of sustainable economic growth and presents a promising opportunity to enhance global trade and investment. He reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to participating in the forum, highlighting its role in representing the Qatari private sector, advancing the halal industry in Qatar, and keeping pace with global trends in this vital sector.

He also underscored the chamber’s interest in developing the halal industry, encouraging businessmen and investors to explore opportunities across its various sectors. He asserted its commitment to supporting Qatari companies and enhancing their international partnerships, contributing to economic diversification and the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030.

The halal sector encompasses a broad range of products and services, including food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, Islamic finance, and halal tourism, further reinforcing the need to develop this industry to ensure its sustainability and expansion.

The forum aimed to enhance co-operation among participating countries in the halal industry by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, regulators, and international experts to explore the latest trends in this rapidly growing sector and highlight emerging trade and investment opportunities.

It explored the adoption of modern technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to enhance transparency and efficiency in halal product certification processes. The three-day forum featured specialised discussions on halal standards, innovation, and the future of Islamic finance, as well as various workshops to help companies and entrepreneurs meet global halal requirements.

The event also hosted an international exhibition with over 150 participants from 15 countries, fostering trade co-operation and expanding international partnerships.

On the sidelines of the forum, the chamber’s delegation took part in a series of key meetings.

Sheikh Khalifa and the chamber’s board members met with a delegation from the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its first deputy chairman, Kurbanov Davronbek.

The meeting discussed the expansion of trade and economic co-operation, attracting investments, developing business co-operation, and organising mutual delegation visits. It also discussed avenues for co-operation between the two chambers and explored investment opportunities across various sectors in both countries.

Speaking at the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa lauded the close relations between Qatar and Uzbekistan, noting that the volume of trade exchange remains below expectations. He encouraged the Uzbekistan Chamber to organise a business delegation visit to Qatar to engage with their Qatari counterparts and explore areas of co-operation.

For his part, Davronbek highlighted Uzbekistan’s production of high-quality halal food products and expressed his eagerness to strengthen collaboration with Qatar Chamber, fostering closer ties between the business sectors of both nations. He also emphasised the importance of activating the Qatar-Uzbekistan Joint Business Council to further enhance business co-operation.

In turn, al-Mohamed provided an overview of the Islamic Chamber’s recent activities and its role in promoting co-operation among member countries. He expressed gratitude to the Uzbekistan Chamber for its commitment to strengthening ties with Qatar. He further pointed out that Islamic countries possess the necessary resources and potential to become a leading global economic force, underscoring the need for greater co-ordination and co-operation among them.