The government plans to earn Tk 85,000 crore annually by exporting halal food. Work has begun to achieve this goal in the next 10 years. At present the income in this sector is Tk 8500 crore.

Potential export of halal products includes vegetables, fruits, spices, beef, fish, medicines, frozen food, frozen chicken and various products made from chicken.

According to experts, even the country exports all these products to the world but its participation in global halal market is very low.

Global buyers do not know whether the products that Bangladesh is exporting are being produced halal or not. There is even a lack of publicity on this issue. Bangladesh is not in the top ten in other categories such as halal food, halal tourism, halal pharmaceuticals and halal cosmetics.

In this regard, the government is now set to work relentlessly. To identify halal foods as per global standard, it is set to establish halal certification authority within next month, said officilas.

It is to be mentioned here, due to lack of halal certification authority, despite having the potentiality of the country’s meat, the export process has not been able to move forward to many countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

Citing the government’s utmost importance for the development of the halal food sector, commerce secretary Md Jafar Uddin said, “Besides the existing leading export sector of the country, the government is now eyeing to other potential sectors which can increase revenue earnings."

"To this end, we are now going to establish halal certification authority within December this year. We will include concerned domestic and foreign experts, government representatives, and representatives of the International Halal Association,” he added.

“We hope that as a result of these initiatives, the export of halal food in Bangladesh will increase significantly. The Tariff Commission will make a series of recommendations on the potential market and potential for exporting halal products. Bangladesh will soon apply to work as a member of the International Halal Association. In this case, the government will fulfill all their conditions,” he further added.

The concerned authority has already started the work to achieve the goal within the stipulated time. Various initiatives have been taken to ensure 100 percent safe and healthy halal food while maintaining international standards.

An integrated program in a joint venture with the concerned six ministries and five government and non-government organizations has been chalked out. A separate economic zone will be set up to prepare halal products. To implement the plan, the Tariff Commission has recommended applying for membership in the International Halal Association.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Religion, Information, Fisheries and Livestock will work to implement the whole plan. Apart from this, the Islamic Foundation, BSTI, Bangladesh Safe Food Authority, FBCCI, and National Consumer Protection Department will be directly involved in the steps to increase the export of halal products.

New Zealand,being one of the global leaders in food production and food export, will invest a huge amount in the development of the halal food sector in Bangladesh. Besides a world-class certification authority will also be formed by next month.

Due to high demand, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken initiative to export 36 types of vegetables, 29 spices, and 17 more products from the Department of Livestock and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Apart from this, there is also a demand for different types of Bangladeshi seasonal fruits in the international market.

Recently, a workshop titled ‘Certification Capacity of All Products including Halal products, Possibility of Exporting Halal Products’ was organized by the Ministry of Commerce at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital.

Professor of Department of Economics of Dhaka University Rumana Haque in that workshop said, “Halal food is becoming popular among non-Muslims too.”

The global market in 2024 will be US$ 10,500,00 crore. We should be able tograb the export market of halal products. Potential of exporting food items are vegetables, fruits, spices, beef, fish, frozen food, frozen chicken, and various products made from chicken.”

It is to be noted that globally Muslim nations spent $1.3 trillion in 2017 for halal food and beverages, while the country earns US$ 1 billion crore from this sector.  

In the halal products exports, Bengal Meat, Paragon Frozen Food, Kazi Farms, and CP Bangladesh Co. Ltd is in the leading position. The annual export of these four companies is US$ 1 billion which is equivalent to Tk 8,500 crore.

It was learnt that because of weak