Digitalization and Halal: International Experts Discussed Development of Cooperation at KazanForum

On May 16, 2025, the plenary session of the XVI International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum” took place at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center. The main theme of the event was “Digitalization: a new reality and additional opportunities for expanding cooperation.”

The official opening of the forum began with a recitation from the Quran by the Mufti of Tatarstan, Kamil Hazrat Samigullin. The verses from Surah Al-Hashr were shown on screens — handwritten by a Kazan calligrapher for the Kazan manuscript Quran.

Participants of the session discussed how digitalization is becoming a key tool in international cooperation, including in the halal industry, which continues to evolve at the intersection of religion, economy, and technology.

Among the honored guests were leaders of major international organizations involved in the standardization and certification of halal products in Islamic countries:

• Ihsan Ovut, Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC, Turkey);

• Moteb Al-Mezani, Director General of the GCC Accreditation Center (GAC, Saudi Arabia);

• Haikal Hassan Baras, Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH, Indonesia);

• Datuk Dr. Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee, Director General of Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), which recently accredited the Halal Standard Committee of the Muslim Religious Board of Tatarstan.

The presence of such influential halal experts was no coincidence: KazanForum 2025 became a key platform for discussing unified approaches to digital halal certification, mutual recognition of standards, and the integration of technology into the halal industry.

In the context of global digital transformation, the Halal Standard Committee of the Muslim Religious Board of Tatarstan acts as a bridge between Russian producers and international certification bodies. The involvement of JAKIM, BPJPH, SMIIC, and GAC in strategic forum discussions reinforces dialogue and sets the course for international cooperation in the halal sector — at the intersection of spiritual, technological, and economic dimensions.

Photo credit: Organizing Committee of KazanForum 2025