Source: Europe Food Agency News

JAKARTA – The world’s premier food and beverage trade exhibition, Anuga, is partnering with the Islamic Chamber Halal Services (ICHS) to introduce a groundbreaking conference dedicated to halal industry opportunities. This collaboration marks the debut of the Anuga Halal Forum at Anuga 2025, establishing a specialized platform for halal sector advancement and international business development.

Strategic Partnership for Industry Leadership

The partnership between Anuga and ICHS represents a significant milestone in recognizing the halal market’s growing influence within the global food industry. This alliance combines Anuga’s established position as the world’s leading food trade fair with ICHS’s expertise as a catalyst for halal sector development worldwide.

The inaugural forum, scheduled for October 6, 2025, will operate under the theme “Halal Food: A Global Gateway to Growth” and take place in the prestigious Konrad Adenauer Hall of the Congress Center North from 10:20 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.

Comprehensive Professional Programming

The forum’s agenda features a diverse range of educational and networking components designed to serve the entire halal ecosystem. Programming includes high-level keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions, specialized masterclasses, and strategic industry addresses. This comprehensive approach ensures participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical insights for business implementation.

Jan Philipp Hartmann, Director of Anuga, emphasized the forum’s strategic importance: “The Anuga Halal Forum represents a logical and particularly valuable enhancement to our programming. For our attendees, it creates an exceptional opportunity to acquire knowledge, establish professional networks, and discover new business potential.”

Global Ecosystem Development Focus

The forum targets a broad spectrum of industry professionals, including halal food manufacturers and exporters, international importers and retail distributors, investment firms and trade development agencies, certification organizations, regulatory bodies, and government representatives from the global halal marketplace.

Yousef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, highlighted the partnership’s broader significance: “The launch of the first Anuga Halal Forum represents a crucial step in strengthening halal’s role within the global food industry. This partnership between two highly specialized organizations extends beyond simple collaboration—it demonstrates a shared commitment to building a global halal ecosystem founded on trust, innovation, and opportunity.”

Market Growth and Innovation Trends

Data from Innova Market Insights, Anuga’s knowledge partner, reveals impressive growth patterns within the halal sector. Analysis shows that Asia dominated halal product innovations in 2024, accounting for over 55% of all new products featuring halal claims, while Africa contributed 21% of such innovations.

The research indicates that halal product launches have increased by approximately 10% over the past five years, with certain categories experiencing particularly robust growth:

• Baked goods: 15% market share
• Sauces and spices: 13% market share
• Snack products: 11% market share
• Dairy products: 9% market share

Notably, specialized subcategories such as confectionery and poultry products have achieved exceptional performance, recording average annual growth rates of up to 17% between 2020 and 2024.

Accessibility and Participation

The forum offers complimentary access to all Anuga visitors, with registration applications becoming available through the ICHS website. This inclusive approach ensures broad industry participation while maintaining the forum’s professional focus and educational value.

The free attendance model reflects both organizations’ commitment to knowledge sharing and industry development, removing financial barriers that might prevent smaller companies or emerging market participants from accessing valuable industry insights.

Industry Transformation and Future Outlook

The establishment of the Anuga Halal Forum reflects the broader transformation of the halal food sector from a niche market segment into a major driver of global food industry innovation and growth. The forum positions itself not merely as an informational event, but as a catalyst for shaping the future direction of international halal trade and market leadership.

This initiative acknowledges the evolving nature of consumer preferences, where halal certification increasingly represents quality assurance and ethical production standards that appeal to both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers worldwide.

Strategic Business Implications

For industry professionals, the forum represents an opportunity to understand emerging market dynamics, explore new geographic expansion possibilities, and develop strategic partnerships within the rapidly evolving halal marketplace. The combination of educational programming and networking opportunities provides a comprehensive platform for business development and market intelligence gathering.

The timing of this inaugural forum coincides with unprecedented growth in global halal food demand, making it a crucial venue for companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in this dynamic sector.