KazanForum 2026: Tatarstan’s Halal Producers to Gain Access to North African Markets
KazanForum 2026: Tatarstan’s Halal Producers to Gain Access to North African Markets
21 May
Tatarstan is actively expanding the export geography of its halal products. Intensive work is underway to secure recognition of regional halal certificates in Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia, with Iran and Pakistan as prospective markets. This was announced by Abbyas Shlyaposhnikov, Head of the Halal Standard Committee under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan, at a press conference for the XVII International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum".
"CIS countries are also important to us. For instance, Uzbekistan has passed a law. As for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: we are working with the former, and we have been received at government level. Kazakhstan is developing very actively. There are also prerequisites and understanding regarding Tajikistan. We are also interested in 'lower' Africa today," - the Head of the Halal Standard Committee stated.
To coordinate export initiatives, an interdepartmental working group was formed in the Republic in December 2025 under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Vasil Shaykhraziev. Its task is to create favourable conditions for the development of the halal industry and to identify the most promising directions for halal product supplies based on existing demand.
The developed and approved certificates of conformity to the halal standard issued in Tatarstan are already recognised in a wide range of countries, including Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Taiwan, Thailand, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of South Africa, Shandong Province (China), and Nigeria. Plans are in place to prepare nine more standards across various spheres of the halal infrastructure.
This year, the Halal Standard Committee under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan received international accreditation from the Halal Product Assurance Agency under the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia and accreditation at the Saudi Halal Center in Saudi Arabia. Thus, producers of halal products certified in Tatarstan have been granted direct access to the markets of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Tatarstan is demonstrating impressive growth in halal product exports. While the supply volume totalled 14 million USD by the end of 2024, last year the figure more than tripled to 45 million dollars. The target for the current year is to reach the 50 million dollars mark. In January–April of this year alone, the supply volume has already reached 16.5 million dollars. Around 20 companies are supplying products to foreign markets.
At the XVII International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum", Dmitry Volvach, Head of the Federal Accreditation Service, reported that the total volume of halal product exports from Russia reached approximately 400 million USD by the end of 2025, which is 15% higher compared to the year before last. The bulk of exports consists of food products, including confectionery and pasta.
"This is a colossal market and an opportunity to bring Russian brands to global markets, primarily, of course, in the sphere of tourism and hospitality. We are carrying out specific work to this end and will continue to do so. I would like the number of participants in this market to grow. Currently, the number of entities generating this 400 million USD is small. Among them are several large companies, but I would like to see a certain diversification, with more small and medium-sized enterprises among them, so that they can grow into serious global exporters," - said Dmitry Volvach.
Volvach noted that demand for halal services in Islamic countries remains high: citizens lack spa complexes, accommodation facilities, and catering establishments in the Russian Federation that meet the relevant requirements. This opens up new opportunities for Russian brands, especially in the sphere of tourism and hospitality.
"CIS countries are also important to us. For instance, Uzbekistan has passed a law. As for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: we are working with the former, and we have been received at government level. Kazakhstan is developing very actively. There are also prerequisites and understanding regarding Tajikistan. We are also interested in 'lower' Africa today," - the Head of the Halal Standard Committee stated.
To coordinate export initiatives, an interdepartmental working group was formed in the Republic in December 2025 under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Vasil Shaykhraziev. Its task is to create favourable conditions for the development of the halal industry and to identify the most promising directions for halal product supplies based on existing demand.
The developed and approved certificates of conformity to the halal standard issued in Tatarstan are already recognised in a wide range of countries, including Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Taiwan, Thailand, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of South Africa, Shandong Province (China), and Nigeria. Plans are in place to prepare nine more standards across various spheres of the halal infrastructure.
This year, the Halal Standard Committee under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan received international accreditation from the Halal Product Assurance Agency under the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia and accreditation at the Saudi Halal Center in Saudi Arabia. Thus, producers of halal products certified in Tatarstan have been granted direct access to the markets of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Tatarstan is demonstrating impressive growth in halal product exports. While the supply volume totalled 14 million USD by the end of 2024, last year the figure more than tripled to 45 million dollars. The target for the current year is to reach the 50 million dollars mark. In January–April of this year alone, the supply volume has already reached 16.5 million dollars. Around 20 companies are supplying products to foreign markets.
At the XVII International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum", Dmitry Volvach, Head of the Federal Accreditation Service, reported that the total volume of halal product exports from Russia reached approximately 400 million USD by the end of 2025, which is 15% higher compared to the year before last. The bulk of exports consists of food products, including confectionery and pasta.
"This is a colossal market and an opportunity to bring Russian brands to global markets, primarily, of course, in the sphere of tourism and hospitality. We are carrying out specific work to this end and will continue to do so. I would like the number of participants in this market to grow. Currently, the number of entities generating this 400 million USD is small. Among them are several large companies, but I would like to see a certain diversification, with more small and medium-sized enterprises among them, so that they can grow into serious global exporters," - said Dmitry Volvach.
Volvach noted that demand for halal services in Islamic countries remains high: citizens lack spa complexes, accommodation facilities, and catering establishments in the Russian Federation that meet the relevant requirements. This opens up new opportunities for Russian brands, especially in the sphere of tourism and hospitality.
