BFTI implemented a project of Ministry of Commerce on “Developing Export Competitiveness of Potential Halal Products of Bangladesh”. The project was funded by the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The project was selected and awarded by the COMCEC Coordination Office (CCO) in response to the 10th call for project proposal under the COMCEC Project Funding. The contract of the said project was signed by the Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh and Development and Investment Bank of Turkiye.
The objective of the project was to improve the capacity of the officials from both public and private sector related to halal certification. Under this project, a delegation of 5 officials led by Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, CEO, BFTI Dr. Saif Uddin Ahammad, Joint Secretary, MoC, Ms. Mahbuba Khatoon Minu, Deputy Secretary, MoC, Mr. Md. Julfikar Islam, Research Manager, BFTI and Mr. SM Abu Sayed, Assistant Director, Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution visited to Istanbul, Turkiye held from 23 October 2023 to 27 October 2023. The objective of the study visit was to gather the first-hand experience of the successful implementation of SMIIC/OIC Standards prepared and published by Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) and the halal accreditation and certification services provided by the national bodies of Turkiye, Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) and Turkish Standards Institution (TSE).
On the first day (24 October 2023), The team participated in an International Conference on Global Recognition of Halal Certificates organized by HAK at Gonen Hotel, Istanbul, Türkiye. On the same day the study team also had a meeting with a team of HAK led by Zafer SOYLU, Chairman of the Board of Directors, HAK. The team also visited SMIIC office to learn about its areas of work and activities on Halal Standards. Afterwards, the team visited the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) quality campus to witness the quality testing procedures and laboratory facilities. Mr. Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq, Additional Secretary (FTA Wing), Ministry of Commerce, graced the event as the Special Guest. Ms. Mahbuba Khatoon Minu, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Project Director delivered the welcome speech. The resource persons -Mr. Yasin Zülfikaroğlu from Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), an affiliated institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Mr. Mete Çevik from The Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK), Rupublic of Turkey, were also present. 32 officials from public and private sector are participating in the training programme.
