IsDB says Azerbaijan can play key role in halal economy Azerbaijan

is well positioned to play an important role in the development of the global halal economy thanks to its strategic location and efforts to diversify its economy, a senior Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) official said.

Speaking at the Halal Economy Leadership Forum in Baku, Samer Elesawi, head of the IsDB Centre of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur, said Azerbaijan’s connectivity and growing interest in the halal sector could help strengthen regional halal value chains and create new investment opportunities.

He said the global halal economy was one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, while fragmented standards, certification systems, financing constraints and logistics gaps remained key challenges for member countries.

Elesawi said closer cooperation among governments, businesses and development institutions would be needed to unlock the sector’s potential and support sustainable economic growth and regional integration. (2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings⁠)

N.Tebrizli