Greece needs to formulate a national halal strategy and boost the exports of the Greek agrofood sector to Muslim markets, Deputy Rural Development & Food Minister Christos Kellas said at the National Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (NAAC) on Monday. 

At an event, Kellas said that Greece has high-quality products with strong local identity and international recognition that can acquire a new export dynamic through the halal certification as well as access to markets such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye.

According to a ministry announcement, the event served to launch a new international initiative of collaboration between Mirtec Cyprus Ltd (a subsidiary of Evetam SA, the Hellenic Organization for Certification, Inspection and Laboratory Testing ) and Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The cooperation aims at creating a National Halal Strategy in Greece.

Data presented at the event showed that the global market for halal products exceeds 2.5 trillion dollars annually, with a growth rate of over 6%. Halal certification regulations are not solely related to Muslim religious practices but serve as a vehicle of access to high-value markets with strict quality practices.
 

(File photo)