Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković participated in the 3rd Mekkah Halal Forum, which will be held from February 14 to 16, 2026 under the high patronage of H.E. Dr. Majid Al-Kasabi, Minister of Trade of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As part of the “Leader Talk” session entitled “Country Success – BiH’s Capacity Building for Halal Economic Growth”, Minister Konaković presented the strategic initiative of positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina as a European halal hub – a country that, thanks to its geographical, cultural and historical position, connects East and West, the markets of the European Union and the countries of the Gulf.
He pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina has great potential to systematically strengthen its capacities for the development of the halal economy through recognized certification, institutional support for exports, attracting investments and strengthening partnerships with GCC and OIC countries. He emphasized that deep religious, cultural and economic ties represent a solid foundation for building sustainable and long-term strategic partnerships.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Konaković held a series of meetings, including talks with the management of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD), led by Secretary General Jusuf Khalavi, a delegation and representatives of the Muslim Trade Forum (MTF) from the United Kingdom, representatives of halal quality certification agencies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as businessmen from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Turkey, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Egypt and other countries.
Special emphasis was placed on the initiative “Discover. Visit. Invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina – European Halal Hub” and the organization of the central European business forum in BiH dedicated to the halal industry.
During the Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ICCD and the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which further strengthened institutional cooperation in the field of halal standards development, education and international networking.
