D-8 Halal Expo's Second Day Generates New Business Partnership Opportunities

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The second day of the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia (D-8 HEI) generated a number of business cooperation opportunities among entrepreneurs from member states of the Developing Eight (D-8), ranging from the signing of a memorandum of understanding to the exploration of partnerships in the food, pharmaceutical, and halal industries.

In a written statement issued on Thursday, 9 July 2026, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said one of the key achievements on the second day of the exhibition was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Community (KPMI) and the Indonesia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) to strengthen the promotion of the halal economy, finance, and trade through a business-to-business (B2B) cooperation framework.

The MoU was signed by KPMI Chairman Rachmat Sutarnas Marpaung and IBCCI President Mohammed Riyadh Ali and witnessed by Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati and Putu Rahwidhiyasa, Director of Sharia Business and Entrepreneurship at the National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS).

The organizers also facilitated business matching sessions in the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. Two Bangladeshi companies, Akrij and PRAN Foods, initiated strategic partnership opportunities with PT Indofood through facilitation by the Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka and KNEKS.

In the healthcare sector, delegates from the Iran-Indonesia Trade Center (IITC) explored cooperation opportunities with PT Bio Farma and PT Kimia Farma in pharmaceutical production. The IITC delegation also met with Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture to discuss potential cooperation in livestock technology exchange.

The D-8 HEI program also featured the HEI Talks discussion forum. The first session, titled "Driving the Future of Global Halal Trade: Strategic Synergies Between Indonesia, Pakistan and Iran," highlighted the importance of harmonizing global halal certification standards to expand access to non-traditional halal markets.

Meanwhile, the second session, "Halal Critical Raw Material Innovation," discussed the potential of blue food as an alternative source of halal raw materials. The discussion also underscored the role of the blue economy in supporting sustainable halal economic development.

The D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia will run through 12 July 2026, at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium in Jakarta. The exhibition has attracted businesses from various sectors as well as international visitors from D-8 member states and partner countries, including Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, China, and Algeria.

D-8 HEI is part of Indonesia's D-8 Chairmanship for the 2026–2027 period under the theme "Strengthening D-8 Halal Economy Through International Collaboration." Through the event, Indonesia aims to strengthen business cooperation and halal supply chains while supporting the D-8 target of increasing intra-bloc trade to US$500 billion by 2030.