The apex trade body has sought cooperation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in setting up a global halal certification centre in Bangladesh.
The facility would mutually benefit both the two countries, it said on Saturday.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Sheikh F Fahim made the call during a meeting with UAE ambassador in Dhaka Saed Mohammed Almheiri at FBCCI office.
He underscored the importance of knowledge and technology transfer with the UAE for halal certification.
Mr Fahim stressed the development of training modules, soft skills and physical infrastructure for a globally rated halal unified certification system at FBCCI.
The centre would aim to tap the business potential in the international halal market, he cited.
Mr Fahim said FBCCI as an umbrella trade organisation would disseminate technical know-how on halal processing to 500-plus member bodies and 30 million entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
It would facilitate halal exports from Bangladesh to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other Muslim-majority states.
At the event, the UAE envoy expressed his keen interest in working with FBCCI to set up a comprehensive halal certification centre.
He also highlighted the UAE's access to the Gulf markets and looked forward to facilitating the business community in these markets.
Samia Abdellatif, conformity director of Dubai-based RACS Quality Certificates Issuing Services, shared an in-depth overview of the halal certification process with FBCCI.
She invited the trade body to join the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF).
Other issues at the meeting discussed included exchange of delegations and inclusion of the private sector at the UAE Bangladesh Joint Economic Council.
Bangladesh has exported goods to the UAE to the tune of $0.34 billion and imported goods worth $1.23 billion in the last fiscal year.
FBCCI senior vice-president Md Muntakim Ashraf, vice-presidents Md SiddiqurRahman and Mir NizamUddin Ahmed, and directors NizamUddin and Sujib Ranjan Dash, and former director Khairul Huda Chapal, among others, were present.
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