FOREIGN NEWS

@ Halal | September-October. 2026

The event is expected to attract international businesses, investors, and industry leaders seeking to tap into the expanding opportunities in the halal economy.

The four-day event at the Istanbul Expo Centre in Yeşilköy will bring together companies and professionals from a wide range of countries and sectors, including food, cosmetics, finance, textiles, tourism, and healthcare.

Held annually in Istanbul under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the expo is organised by Discover Events in cooperation with the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries( SMIIC), an institution affiliated with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation( OIC), and other key partners.

More than a conventional trade exhibition, the Halal Expo is a vibrant meeting point for manufacturers, buyers, investors, and distributors seeking to explore new markets and forge international business

EYEING NEW MARKETS: Korean brands explore Indonesia’ s growing halal consumer market.

KOREAN consumer brands are turning their attention to Indonesia’ s rapidly expanding halal market. Around 200 companies are gathering in Jakarta to showcase a wide range of food, beauty and household products, reflecting growing commercial interest.

The 2026 Jakarta K-Premium Consumer Goods Fair, organised by the Korea International Trade Asso- connections.

A key feature of this year ' s event is its business-to-business programme, which will enable companies to connect with potential buyers and partners through pre-arranged oneto-one meetings.

Organisers anticipate that the 2026 edition will attract participants from more than 100 countries, underscoring the event’ s global reach across sectors such as food, cosmetics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and finance.

The expo will also host country business forums, where official delegations, investors, business leaders, and decision-makers can discuss opportunities for collaboration and trade.

For Türkiye, the event underscores its ongoing efforts to position itself as a key player in the international halal economy. Organisers envision Türkiye becoming a central hub, linking domestic production to a global halal consumer base of more than two billion people.

The scale of the previous edition reflects the sector ' s growing international momentum. Halal Expo 2025 attracted roughly 500 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries and welcomed more than 50,000 visitors from almost

ciation( KITA) and Coex, was held at the JICC exhibition centre.

Marking its eighth edition, the event was themed“ K-halal”, highlighting Korean companies’ efforts to consolidate their presence in one of the world’ s largest halal markets.

Indonesia, with a population of approximately 290 million, 87 per cent of whom are Muslim, is a key market for halal-certified goods. The

FROM ISTANBUL TO THE WORLD: Türkiye aims to strengthen its role as a hub for the global halal economy.

110 nations, including approximately 1,000 international buyers.

Looking ahead to 2026, the event will broaden its focus beyond traditional halal products, with dedicated areas for natural, organic, and vegan goods, as well as private-label products. These additions aim to introduce a wider lifestyle and consumer dimension to the exhibition.

Highlighting the halal economy ' s expansion beyond food and certification, Halal Expo 2026 will showcase opportunities across Muslim-friendly tourism, Islamic finance, and modest fashion, positioning Istanbul as a strategic gateway for global companies seeking to enter new markets and forge cross-continental partnerships.

upcoming introduction of mandatory halal certification in October has prompted increased interest among Korean firms eager to establish an early foothold.

The fair features an exhibition, a buyer-matching programme, and a pop-up store. Organisers anticipate that about 300 Indonesian buyers and 30 Malaysian buyers will take part in roughly 1,100 export consultations with Korean companies.

Roughly 200 Korean companies will occupy 300 booths, alongside pavilions coordinated by six provincial governments and agencies, including the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency.

In addition to the exhibition, KITA is running a month-long promotion at K3 Mart in Lippo Mall Puri, Jakarta, throughout September.

Products from 20 Korean brands seeking to enter Southeast Asia’ s halal market will be on offer, giving companies the opportunity to assess local consumer response.

KITA honorary chairman Koo Jayeol described Indonesia’ s economic growth and large young population as factors that offer Korean consumer goods " limitless potential for expansion."

THAILAND’ S natural ingredients industry is turning to Malaysia’ s well-established halal ecosystem to expand into the Middle Eastern market. Specialty Natural Products Public Company Ltd( SNPS) is at the forefront of this initiative, actively exploring partnerships with Malaysian companies.

SNPS is open to co-developing products with Malaysian partners, with a particular focus on product formulation and halal certification, as the company seeks to broaden its reach beyond Southeast Asia.

Laure Desforges, head of SNPS’ s international division, highlighted the company’ s eagerness to share technical expertise and to collaborate with partners to navigate the region’ s challenging halal certification requirements.

The company already has a strong presence in key halal markets, with over 98 per cent of its ingredients and products certified for the Malaysian, Thai, and Indonesian markets.

Malaysia’ s halal certifications are overseen by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia( JAKIM).

SNPS manufactures Thai botanical herbal extracts for the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, nutraceutical, functional food, and cosmetics industries, and supplies semi-formulations to cosmetics manufacturers.

Alongside its halal ambitions, SNPS is preparing to expand its network of partner farmers in Thailand from 250 to 1,500 over the next five years.

The company and its subsidiary, Specialty Innovation Co Ltd, recently welcomed international journalists from across Southeast Asia for an exclusive tour of its Bangkok manufacturing site, organised by Informa Markets in conjunction with the Vitafoods Asia 2026 trade event.-