Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2 January 2024 – The IsDB Center of Excellence (KLCoE) undertook a courtesy visit to Halal Development Corporation (HDC). The visit, led by the Head of KLCoE, Mr. Samer Elesawi, was received by the Chief Executive Officer of HDC, Mr. Hairol Ariffein Sahari.

During the visit, both parties discussed various aspects while sharing valuable insights and strategizing joint initiatives for the year 2024. HDC is one of KLCoE’s main strategic partners in supporting the Halal ecosystem development of the IsDB Member Countries.

Among the notable joint initiatives on which both parties had collaborated before was to support the development of Azerbaijan's Halal industry ecosystem through the devising of a masterplan. This masterplan serves as a strategic roadmap to unlock the country’s potential to tap into the US$ 2 trillion global Halal market. The collaboration was initiated through a stakeholder’s consultation workshop held in Baku on 12-13 October 2023, involving all the relevant public sector agencies in Azerbaijan. Additionally, a joint study report, 'Global Halal Ecosystem Assessment Report,' is currently being undertaken and is in the process of being published.

HDC was established on 18 September 2006, functioning as the country’s central coordinator that promotes participation and facilitates the growth of industry players in the development of Malaysia’s Halal ecosystem.  It is an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), and the world’s first Government-backed halal industry development corporation.