ICHS to support development of halal market in Azerbaijan

The main objective of the memorandum signed between the Islamic Chamber Halal Services (ICHS) and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK) is to develop the halal market in Azerbaijan, grow it in the domestic market, and prepare it for export, Ashraf El Tanbouly, CEO of ICHS, told Report.

According to him, this preparation for export will enable more opportunities for work, increase the GDP, and enhance the trade agreements between different countries: "So it has multiple aspects. The first one is to enable the ecosystem in Azerbaijan itself. So Azerbaijan needs to have standards, accreditation, trade agreements, and requirements for halal. The second aspect is the preparation of the private sector to be able to provide halal products, get certificates, and get enabled to do that through training of the operation departments, quality departments, marketing, and sales - all the aspects of the private sector. The third is going to market itself. That will be done through exhibitions, trade missions, and the platform that we have talked about in the presentation. And the MoU signed yesterday covers everything, it covers consultation with the country, enablement of the private sector, certification, and go-to-market assistance."

El-Tanbuli added that tool implementation will be done in cooperation with ASK: "The technical assistance will be provided from our side, but all the organization, the preparations, connections with the private sector and even the government will be done by ASK."