Bangladesh has sought Malaysia’s cooperation in establishing a halal industrial park, aiming to tap into the fast-growing global halal products market.

“Let’s make a move on this,” said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with Malaysian halal industry officials at his hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

The Malaysian delegation was led by Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah binti Mohd Yusoff, Coordinator of Halal Affairs under the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department. Also present were Sirajuddin Bin Suhaimee, Director General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and Hairol Ariffein Sahari, CEO of the Halal Development Corporation (HDC).

Officials informed Yunus that the global halal products market, currently valued at USD 3 trillion, is projected to grow to USD 5 trillion by 2030. Malaysia, which operates at least 14 halal industrial parks, is a key market leader alongside Middle Eastern nations, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

Home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population, Bangladesh has strong potential to enter the market if it strengthens its infrastructure and certification processes. At present, the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh is the sole halal certification body, with only 124 manufacturers certified.

BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun urged Malaysia to help identify the requirements for setting up a halal industrial park in Bangladesh, noting that many Bangladeshi firms are eager to export halal-certified goods.

Yunus described the meeting as a valuable learning experience, saying, “Thank you for the insight — it feels like a class on halal products.”

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh and Malaysia exchanged a note of cooperation in halal ecosystems, a move officials dubbed “halal diplomacy.” Sirajuddin said Malaysia would soon send a team to Bangladesh to assess its needs.

MUM/MN