3rd Halal Business Forum successfully held

Organized by the Centre for Halal Quality Certification, the third Halal Business Forum was successfully held in Zagreb, at the Westin Hotel, on October 2 and 3, 2023.

The Forum once again gathered relevant interlocutors from around the world, as well as current and potential participants in the halal market from around 30 countries. The primary focus of this year's forum was on the concept of the circular economy, which aims to minimize waste and maximize efficiency while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of cooperation and innovation within industry and the academic community.

The patrons of this largest halal event in the European Union are the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia, and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, while the partners include the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Zagreb City Tourist Board, Advantage Austria, Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), Islamic Chamber Research and Information Center (ICRIC), Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), United World Halal Development (UNWHD), World Halal Summit (WHS), British Islamic Trade Association (BITA), Halal Focus, Sandžak TV, and others.

During the two-day event, numerous business meetings (B2B) were held, and Podravka d.d., Perutnina Ptuj Pipo d.o.o., Škokić d.o.o., Pik Vrbovec plus d.o.o., Grbić d.o.o., Ard' Natural Cosmetics, and Sarajevo Business Forum presented their offers of halal products and services at the fair section of the forum.

"It is my pleasure to welcome you to the third Halal Business Forum, which is also a unique opportunity for connecting manufacturers and service providers with the halal market," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aldin Dugonjić, Head of the Centre, welcoming the guests from around 30 countries and representatives of Croatian companies with halal certificates.
 

Important contributions to the opening ceremony were made through speeches by Academician Aziz ef. Hasanović on behalf of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mr. Amer Bukvić, Director General of the Global Practice and Cooperation Department of the Islamic Development Bank from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ms. Slavija Jačan Obratov, Director of the Sector for Tourist Associations System and Product Development at the Croatian National Tourist Board, Mr. Ihsan Övüt, Secretary General of SMIIC (Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries), and Mr. Hrvoje Bujanović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

On this occasion, awards were presented to all partners, sponsors, and supporters of the Halal Business Forum for their exceptional contribution to the development projects of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification.

Awards were presented to: Vindija d.d., Mlinar pekarska industrija plus d.o.o., Podravka d.d., New Bakery d.o.o., Hrvatska industrija šećera d.d., Pik Vrbovec plus d.o.o., Škokić d.o.o., Perutnina Ptuj Pipo d.o.o., Clarum d.o.o., Anamaria Company d.o.o., Croatia Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Drniška tradicija d.o.o., Elcon PP d.o.o., Atlantic grupa d.o.o., and Pekar d.o.o.

At the end of the opening ceremony, a certificate was awarded to the company Chevap House. Chevap House is a new food destination in Split that puts the popular fast food ćevap in focus as a gastronomic challenge.

As part of the two-day program, a Croatian-Iranian business forum was held where, in addition to a panel with Iranian and Croatian businesspeople, business meetings between representatives of these two countries were also facilitated.

The concept of the circular economy, which is the motto of the Halal Business Forum and aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency, is gaining momentum worldwide. In the context of halal consumption, this concept takes on unique importance as it aligns with the principles of sustainability and responsible consumption. To address the waste problem, we must reform production and consumption patterns and thereby influence the behavior of manufacturers, markets, and consumers.

This highlights the important role that religions and beliefs as value systems have in shaping activities and societal development. A great example of such a value system is the halal market, which in recent years has expanded from a specific market niche to encompass the entire supply chain, including financing, procurement, production, workers' rights, logistics, and marketing. Such models not only achieve social and environmental growth but also direct consumer satisfaction and approval by aligning with their beliefs and values.

What are the innovative food processing methods that reduce waste generation, what is the role of business events in finding partners and B2B networking, how can Islamic banking principles be implemented in conventional business, how can circular economy principles be applied to halal tourism, what is the importance of cooperation between educational institutions and the Halal industry, and what is the importance of building trust and credibility in halal marketing and media?

These and many other questions were addressed by 34 top experts who participated in six panel discussions covering numerous halal market topics; from production, tourism, nutrition, standardization, media and marketing to banking and finance.

Some of the conclusions were:

1. Standardization in the halal certification process emerges as a sustainable solution for numerous certification bodies worldwide
2. In the field of Islamic banking, investing in people represents one of the key segments in further development
3. Our daily media currently fail to adequately present business opportunities and should be more proactive in designing interesting programs that will meet the interests of young people.
4. There is a need for strategic development of halal travel tours designed to optimize the experience of every halal tourist, using storytelling as a powerful tool in bringing different cultures and traditions closer.
5. The search for knowledge is a lifelong journey that transcends formal education. Universities play a key role in bridging the gap between theory and practice, and young students can gain practical experience through volunteering and internships in various companies.
6. The role of standardization bodies is extremely important in setting frameworks for innovation in halal production.

In the closing remarks, it was emphasized that the concept of circularity in the economy encourages repurposing and reuse to solve the waste problem. For this model to succeed, a shift toward an ethical market is necessary, one that promotes responsible consumption and production. To realize these goals, unity and synergy among consumers, manufacturers, certification bodies, authorities, and educational institutions are needed.