Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said halal food culture and values can become a major asset and source of strength for all human civilization, not only the Muslim world. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the “Think Halal, Grow Global” seminar organized by the Malaysian High Commission at an upscale hotel in the capital.

Swapan said the development of halal products and culture is not solely a religious or cultural issue, but is directly linked to the global economy and human welfare. He noted that halal food has a large global market and said consumers and investors are prepared to use the sector’s potential. He urged entrepreneurs, investors, traders and relevant institutions to work in coordination.

The minister said Bangladesh and Malaysia share values in religious and social spheres and could jointly expand the halal industry and its global market reach. He said clear ideas, information, knowledge and business structures were needed for investors. Malaysian High Commissioner Mohammad Shuhada Othman and Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Anwar Shahid also spoke at the seminar.