Future Growth Forum in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Mombasa Chapter and the Mombasa County Government hosted the inaugural Mombasa Halal Workshop on June 26. The one-day event brought together over 50 stakeholders from the public and private sectors to explore opportunities in the halal economy.

The workshop focused on halal certification, export potential, and investment opportunities in sectors such as food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and tourism. Experts from Kenya, Pakistan, Yemen and the UAE addressed halal market trends and compliance processes.

Future Growth Forum CEO Mr. Abdulaziz Billow stated ‘‘Africa, and Kenya in particular, must not remain on the sidelines. The time to act is now. We must build halal ecosystems that meet global standards while rooted in our values and local strengths’’.

‘‘At Future Growth Forum, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. Together, let us build value chains that are trusted, competitive, and inclusive. Let us align our businesses with global standards’’, Abdulaziz added.

KNCCI Mombasa Chairperson Mr. Abud Jamal stated, ‘Today, we stand at the crossroads of tradition and global opportunity. The Halal economy — now valued in the trillions — is no longer a niche sector. It is a dynamic, cross-border engine of growth, encompassing food, pharmaceuticals, finance, fashion, tourism, and beyond. But for us to fully participate, we must ensure one thing: authentic, credible, and internationally recognized Halal certification’’.

The workshop concluded with clear recommendations for county government, investors, and SMEs to collaboratively scale up halal trade capacity and create jobs through ethical and export-ready enterprises.

Key outcomes included a commitment to launch a halal trade & investment desk, the creation of a halal business network, and a roadmap to promote Mombasa as a hub for halal innovation and exports.