Dr Elias-Farakhan Diomandé, Vice President, ESBC; VP OIC-SMENET, Africa.
By Mark Longyen
Dr Elias-Farakhan Diomandé, Vice President, ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), and Vice President, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s OIC-SMENET Bureau for Africa, has pledged to strengthen African SMEs’ visibility globally within three years.
Diomandé said this in a virtual interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), following his election as Vice President, OIC-SMENET Bureau for Africa, during a meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The OIC-SMENET Bureau was established by the OIC during its inaugural Halal Business Forum (AZHAB) meeting, where three vice-presidential positions were created for Asia, Africa, and Arabs.
The Ivorian businessman was elected during the event, which was attended by delegations from Nigeria, Chad, Morocco, The Gambia and Ivory Coast.
Diomandé disclosed that over the next three years, his ambition and priority would be to value and strengthen the visibility of African Halal SMEs within the global transition to green growth.
”My ambition is clear; to value and strengthen the visibility of African Halal SMEs within the global transition to green growth.
”To this end, I commit to facilitating their access to international markets by promoting eco-Halal standards and developing circular economy circuits, which are essential for sustainable competitiveness.
”I will also coordinate OIC member country networks to harmonise standards, improve certification processes, and position SMEs as crucial levers of ethical, prosperous, and sustainable development,” he said.
The ESBC vice president described the Bakou Forum Final Declaration as a foundational text, which explicitly recognised halal SMEs as indispensable engines for building a resilient economy grounded in strong spiritual and ethical values.
He said that this called for collective mobilisation to strengthen their role in the green transition, including zero-waste supply chains, significant carbon emission reductions, and the creation of green jobs.
”This document opens a new era where sustainability, resilience, and social justice are at the heart of the priorities of member states, outlining a common, deeply virtuous future.
”We can envision a future where African Halal SMEs position themselves as innovative and responsible actors at the heart of the global ecological transition.
”This is how Africa will significantly participate in building a more just, greener economy that is accessible to everyone,” he also said.
Diomandé emphasised his commitment to a strong African leadership vision to make Africa’s SMEs models of innovative, ethical, and sustainable enterprises, blending deep spiritual values with international standards’ demands.
The Ivorian businessman described the inaugural panel as a landmark moment, which highlighted the strategic potential of Halal SMEs.
According to him, SMEs are pillars of durable economic resilience grounded in a deep ethic and bold leadership in the fight against climate change.
He said that he was impressed by the global engagement of actors to align Quranic values with internationally recognised standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
”This dialogue between spirituality and contemporary requirements opens the way for a new generation of green Halal enterprises capable of combining economic performance with environmental responsibility.
”The management of Halal business rests on a subtle balance, which I understand is the harmony of success and the success of harmony. Without this harmony, success remains fragile and ephemeral.
”This means that lasting economic success must be rooted in a solid ethical and spiritual framework,” he added.
The OIC-SMENET Vice President further explained that the principles of Halal went beyond mere certification, as they embody an integral philosophy that enforces justice, transparency, and positive social impact.
”This holistic approach is transforming how Halal businesses are conceived and managed,” Diomandé further said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)