News From : DagangHalal.com (13 May 2009)
The Sixth International Halal Showcase (Mihas 2009), which ended on Saturday, has been regarded as one of the most successful events following a large turnout of trade buyers.
Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) director of products section, products and services department, Wan Norma Wan Daud, said the large turnout of trade buyers to the exhibition was important as it generated sales.
“Mihas 2009, held from May 6-10, was aimed at fostering stronger trade connection with global halal players to provide mutual support in expanding the halal market amid the current economic slowdown,” she told Bernama on the final day of the event.
As far as the buyers were concerned, she said: “We have brought close to 600 trade buyers from all over the world to participate in incoming buying mission programme (IBM).”
Wan Norma said the exhibitors, including foreign participants like the French perfume company like Atelier des Parfums, would like to see the presence of the trade buyers.
She said the opening of Mihas to the public was to let them be aware that there was such a halal product in the market.
“The final thing is still the trade buyers. If you don’t bring them buyers next year they (exhibitors) will not come as there will be no value.
“We managed to clinch RM333 million in immediate sales and the potential sales of RM3.4 billion. This is the value of Mihas actually,” she said.
Wan Norma said apart from trade buyers, there were also sales in the exhibition hall.
She said Matrade was satisfied with the overall outcome of Mihas.
Wan Norma said Mihas would be held in June next year.
“This is because we do not want to clash with exhibitions in other countries as we want the foreign exhibitors to participate in our Mihas,” she said.
Meanwhile, Atelier des Parfums vice president, Hermann Portner, said he was happy with Mihas as the event was a good platform for the company to promote the first halal French perfume in the market.
“Our products get an overwhelming response,” he said, adding that Atelier des Parfums would participate again next year with a bigger booth.
— BERNAMA