MIHAS 2008 targets RM400m in sales

MIHAS 2008, Malaysia's fifth international halal showcase, promises to be bigger than before with 508 exhibitors from 25 countries participating in the five-day event which opens today.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) deputy chief executive officer Kamaruddin Hassan said this year's event is targeted to clinch more than RM400 million in sales.

Five new countries participating this year are Canada, Croatia, Germany, Palestine and Serbia.

The organisers are bringing in 545 buyers from 57 countries, targeting to improve last year's record of immediate sales generated within the two days of the incoming buying mission which amounted to RM209.7 million.

This figure does not include the RM473.5 million in sales that were still under negotiation.

The event, being held at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre from today until Sunday, will be officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tomorrow.

The five sectors featured at MIHAS 2008 are food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and herbal products, cosmetics and healthcare, banking and finance, food processing and packaging machinery.

MIHAS, which aspires to be the one-stop centre for the sourcing of halal products and services, has become an effective platform for halal exhibitors, buyers and trade visitors around the world to listen and act on market demands and feedback.

Several trade briefings have also been organised to provide more insight for participants and trade visitors into the opportunities that exist in the halal market and 1.6 billion global Muslim market.

Other value-added programmes and activities for visitors are an exhibition by the food processing and packaging machinery, as an additional new exhibit sector.

Source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Wednesday/Nation/rup060.xml/Article/