Strategic coordination in the halal economy: a cross-regional study of seven Muslim-minority emerging markets

Purpose This study maps halal development heterogeneity across seven Muslim-minority emerging regions and develops a strategy logic for cross-regional coordination based on institutional complementarities. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a mixed-method design. A bibliometric review of 60 Scopus-indexed studies (Jan 2019–Jan 2025) identifies 4 development paradigms via keyword co-occurrence and citation patterns (institution-driven, market-integrated, institution-exporting and peripheral-experimental). These paradigm signals are then integrated into an analytic network process (ANP) with a benefits, opportunities, costs and risks (BOCR) model to derive composite priorities, locate regions on a strategic quadrant map and sequence cooperation pathways. Findings The findings reveal pronounced regional heterogeneity in halal economic development. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South America occupy high B-O positions with relatively manageable C-R constraints, while East Asia and North America exhibit higher C-R frictions despite strong market capabilities. Oceania displays export-oriented potential but is hindered by certification fragmentation; Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and West Africa require institutional capacity building. The results further indicate role-based complementarities, e.g. South America's agribusiness supply, ASEAN's certification leadership, East Asia's branding/technology capacity and Europe's sustainability standards, supporting phased coordination from short-term trust and mutual recognition to longer-term institutional integration. Research limitations/implications This study faces limitations related to bibliometric data and ANP-BOCR modelling. Mapping keywords to BOCR dimensions involves interpretive judgement despite expert validation, and the absence of formal inter-rater reliability statistics may constrain replicability. The analysis is limited to a defined time window (2019–2025) and a single database (Scopus), potentially restricting coverage. Transforming keyword structures into regional priorities may introduce classification bias. Findings should therefore be interpreted as indicative coordination patterns rather than deterministic rankings, with future research extending datasets and comparative validation. Originality/value The study advances a structured hybrid approach that integrates bibliometric paradigms with ANP-BOCR modelling to generate strategic coordination logics. By shifting from regional ranking to role-differentiated complementarity and sequencing, it extends new regionalism debates in Muslim-minority emerging markets and offers actionable guidance for multi-actor halal governance.