IsDB KLCoE Participates in Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum (AZHAB) 2025

 IsDB KLCoE Participates in Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum (AZHAB) 2025

Baku, Azerbaijan, October 9, 2025 — The IsDB Center of Excellence in Kuala Kumpur participated in the Azerbaijan Halal Business Forum (AZHAB) 2025, held in Baku 7-8 October, to advance collaboration in halal industry development and promote sustainable economic growth among IsDB Member Countries.

Representing the Bank, Mr. Samer Elesawi, Head of KLCoE, delivered opening remarks alongside senior dignitaries including H.E. Majnun Mammadov, Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan; H.E. Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy; H.E. Goshgar Tahmazli, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency; H.E. Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board, KOBİA; H.E. Mammad Musayev, President of ASK; H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs; and H.E. Taha Ayhan, President of ICYF (Türkiye).

In his address, Mr. Elesawi emphasized four strategic priorities for advancing the halal economy — strengthening infrastructure, promoting sustainability, leveraging Islamic finance, and accelerating digital transformation — as key pillars for building a trusted, competitive, and innovation-driven halal ecosystem.

On the sidelines of the forum, a series of strategic meetings were held with key Azerbaijani and international counterparts to explore partnerships in halal economy and MSME development. Discussions with the Ministry of Economy (MOE) and Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) focused on developing a national Halal Industry Master plan. The meeting with MOE was also joined by Dr. Farid Khan, Country Manager for Azerbaijan and Ms. Lala Yusifova, IsDB Field Representative.

Meetings were also held with OIC Labor Center, Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) , and Turkish SME representatives highlighting strong interest in joint initiatives on halal MSME development, youth empowerment, and Halal tourism.

The IsDB KLCoE’s participation in AZHAB 2025 reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to supporting Azerbaijan and other Member Countries in building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven Halal economy though knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships and south south cooperation.