Jakarta, July 13 -- The inaugural D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia closed with more than US$13.4 million in transaction commitments, underscoring Indonesia's ambition to become a global halal trade hub, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

The July 8-12 exhibition featured 80 exhibitors from D-8 member states and other countries, including Palestine and Sri Lanka.

The event also attracted buyers from outside the D-8 grouping, including the United States, Russia and Singapore.

More than 5,000 domestic and international visitors attended the exhibition, which hosted 29 business-matching sessions linking exporters, manufacturers and prospective buyers.

The meetings resulted in memorandums of understanding and letters of intent between Indonesian...