Makkah Halal Forum: Enhancing the role of women in the global halal industry
witnessed The Makkah Halal Forum a significant shift aimed at reshaping the workforce landscape in the Islamic economy sector. Sessions highlighted the pivotal and growing role of women in the governance of the global halal industry. This trend comes at a time when the halal market is experiencing rapid growth, expanding beyond the traditional concept of food to encompass pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tourism, and financial services, making women's participation crucial to the sustainability of this sector.
The economic context and the importance of the event
These discussions acquire particular strategic importance within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes women’s empowerment and economic diversification. By hosting such forums, the Kingdom is working to solidify Makkah’s position not only as the Qibla for Muslims but also as a global economic hub that sets standards for quality and governance in the halal industry. Integrating women’s expertise into this sector is a crucial step in enhancing competitiveness and innovation, especially with the expansion of global supply chains.
Empowering women's professionalism in global markets
The panel discussion, titled "Empowering Muslim Women in Global Halal Markets," explored mechanisms for transforming women's roles from symbolic participation to active leadership. Held in partnership with the Maida Nazer Foundation, the session aimed to integrate women into the core economic structure of the halal industry through entrepreneurship and consulting services.
In this context, Nawal Al-Babtain, Director of Halal Product Consulting at Halal Product Development Company, explained that the efforts made to provide consulting services to companies to obtain halal certifications have directly contributed to bridging the gap between the Saudi market and international markets. Al-Babtain emphasized that the supportive environment created by Vision 2030 has enabled Saudi women to lead sensitive initiatives in the international trade sector, noting that the future holds promising opportunities for female talent to make a significant leadership impact.
Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Modern Enabling Tools
The discussions weren't limited to administrative aspects; they also extended to the technological dimension. Diana Spren, co-founder and CEO of OneAgrix, emphasized the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies to enhance the transparency and reliability of the halal industry. She pointed out that female entrepreneurs have a golden opportunity to use technology to spread the concept of halal in new environments and cultures, including non-Muslim Western markets, thus accelerating its global expansion.
Strengthening international relations and investment
For her part, Alia Jafar, Director of International Relations at the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, emphasized the necessity of women's active participation in shaping the Islamic economic landscape. She called for leveraging the Makkah Halal Forum platform to enhance communication among Islamic countries and address weaknesses in coordination, thereby providing a fertile environment for exchanging reliable information on investment opportunities.
The session concluded by emphasizing that empowering women in this sector is not just a social choice, but an economic necessity dictated by the demands of the global market, which seeks quality, credibility, and innovation – qualities that women have proven their worth in achieving.
