In a video message sent to the 9th World Halal Summit and the 10th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Halal Expo, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined that they will make sure that the halal sector attains the status that it merits in Türkiye.
President Erdoğan welcomed the participants and wished that the summit and the expo would be auspicious for the countries and the Islamic world.
Stating that he believes that the discussions to be held during the summit will open new horizons for companies, institutions and consumers in the halal sector, which is getting gradually stronger, President Erdoğan emphasised that the business forums to be held on the occasion of the summit will lead to the establishment of new partnerships between companies.
President Erdoğan stated that the summit and the expo, which are regarded as the largest halal events in the global arena, will also pave the way for the country's companies to get more share from the halal sector and added:
"We see every step taken to ensure food security, the importance of which has become much better understood due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine and the pandemic, as strategically important. I believe that the Halal Summit, which will host nearly 40 thousand guests, ten thousand of whom will be foreigners, will strengthen the food security of Islamic countries. Furthermore, there is a rising demand for halal-certified goods and services since Muslims often favour them, and they are renowned for being hygienic and healthy. The global halal market has expanded to a capacity of over five trillion dollars today, with the main drivers being the food, tourism, cosmetics, and financial sectors."
"We will make sure that the halal sector attains the status that it merits within our country"
President Erdoğan stated that this figure is rising daily in accordance with changing needs and expectations and that certification and standardisation are essential for both enabling consumers to access halal-certified goods and services and facilitating the flow of halal goods and services in international trade.
President Erdoğan highlighted the vital significance of the efforts made in this direction by the 2010-founded Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), and went on to say:
I urge all member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to become members of the Institute, as this will effectively settle any dispute, disagreement, or mistrust that could arise with regard to halal certification. As Türkiye, we have demonstrated the great significance we attach to this matter by establishing the Halal Accreditation Agency in our country. By consistently supporting our agency and its endeavours, we will make sure that the halal sector attains the status that it merits within our country.
President Erdoğan congratulated all the institutions involved in organising the events and wished for the success of both the summit and the expo.