Bahrain Halal Expo 2024: Bridging the Gap between Halal Industry and Islamic Finance

The Kingdom of Bahrain successfully hosted Bahrain Halal Expo from 6-7 February 2024, the event was organised by Checklist and HalalCCI in cooperation with Islamic Association with support from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), the Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO), the Gulf Accreditation Center (GAC), UNIDO and ITPO, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (Tamkeen), Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain Aluminium Company (Alba), Bahrain Islamic Bank, Al Baraka Bank, Bahrain Food Manufacturing Company (TRAFCO) and international organisations like Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), WHAD from Italy, Muhammadiyah and LPPOM MUI from Indonesia,  Islamic Economy Academy, Global Sadaqah from Malaysia, Halal Animal Welfare Association from the UK, US Halal Chambers of Commerce, HDC and many other organizations and around 30 expert speakers from both Halal Industry and Islamic Finance sector.

The event was opened with recitation from the Holy Quran and opening speech by His Excellency Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce. Dr. Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud, President of the Islamic Association, gave a concluding speech in which he thanked the participants and the entities that contributed to the success of the exhibition and the forum including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The forum sought to bridge the gap between the Halal industry and the Islamic finance sector and explore investment opportunities in the Halal industry in its various food and non-food sectors like cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism and others.

Bridging the Gap between Halal Industry and Islamic Finance is crucial for overall growth and sustainability of Halal ecosystem. To achieve one of the main objectives of this event the organizing team will be launching Bahrain Halal Financial Center as a private equity firm to support the growth of global Halal industry InshaaAllah. The organizing team and I would like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for his directives to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to support this event, and we also thank His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Commerce for his attendance and support. I am also very grateful for His Excellency Mr. Ihsan Ovüt from SMIIC, Prof. Nadra and Ms. Elvina from Muhammadiyah, Ms. Annamaria Aisha Tiozzo, Mr. Habib Ghanim, Dr. Hani Mansour Al Mazeedi, Dr. Munir Chaudry and all our friends and partners for supporting and participating in Bahrain Halal Expo. – Mohammed Noor, Founder and CEO of HalalCCI.