News From : DagangHalal.com (25 May 2010)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) — This year’s International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2010), to be held here from June 23 to 27, is expected to see more sales and deals as a result of the improving economy, Datuk Mohamad Kamarudin Hassan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE (Malaysia International Trade Development Corporation) said Tuesday.
“We should see better sales and this would help our exhibitors which are mostly drawn from small and medium scale enterprises,” he said.
MATRADE is the organiser of the annual trade show and last year’s MIHAS generated total sales of RM3.23 billion.
Mohd Kamarudin said MIHAS, which was inaugurated in 2004 with the sole aim of facilitating the sourcing and selling of quality halal consumables, products and services globally, had grown to become the largest congregation of halal industry players.
He said all the 660 booths at this year’s MIHAS, the seventh in the series, had been taken up. About 30 per cent of the exhibitors are from overseas.
Mohd Kamarudin said MATRADE had decided to hold the business matching sessions two days prior to the official opening.
“This would allow for more time for the trade buyers to meet with the exhibitors and suppliers for serious discussions,” he explained.
Last year’s business matching sessions during MIHAS generated immediate sales of over RM200.3 million.
MIHAS, Mohd Kamarudin said, served as the best local entry point for local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to penetrate into the global Muslim markets as they need not leave the country on promotion missions.
Mohd Shukri Abdullah, CEO of MIHAS, said about 35,000 to 40,000 visitors from about 70 countries were expected to attend.
“The show embraces the halal concept in all its dimensions from pharmaceuticals and herbal products, cosmetics and health care to Islamic investment, banking and takaful,” he said.
— BERNAMA