SATURDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2017, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's very own Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) is all set to return for its 14th edition at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event will take place from 5 to 8 April 2017 and is organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the country's trade promotion agency.

The world-renowned event aims to promote Malaysia's Halal sector and is under the patronage of Ministry of International Trade and Industry. MIHAS 2017 will highlight segments within the global Halal industry supply chain such as Halal food & beverages products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and machinery, among others. This year, a segment on services sector, particularly on financial services, halal logistics, e-commerce and tourism will also be introduced.

Complementing MIHAS 2017 will be the inaugural Malaysia International Islamic Lifestyle Exhibition (MILE), an event organised in parallel with MIHAS to promote Islamic lifestyle products. The MILE aims to promote clusters such as modest fashion, Islamic education & literature, Islamic arts, IT & multimedia, jewellery and ornaments as well as social & community development.

In efforts to intensify business deals during the event, MATRADE will be adding value to its signature business matching initiative called International Sourcing Programme (INSP) by potentially organising site visits to highlight Malaysian companies' operations to foreign buyers, apart from coordinating business meetings for the participants. This added value is intended to influence business decisions among the potential foreign buyers who are matched with the local suppliers and improve the rapport between these industry players, for long-term benefits. Last year, MIHAS generated total sales of RM.1.14 billion - an increase of four per cent from 2015 – from both the exhibition and INSP sales.

According to MATRADE's Chief Executive Officer Ir Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros MIHAS is a key annual event for Malaysia as it has the capability to strengthen the country's position as a global hub for Islamic economy. "Malaysia's conducive Islamic economic landscape is exemplary to many nations, resulted in MIHAS' strong positioning around the world. MIHAS is also a testament to the Government's effort to promote and market Malaysian companies Halal products and services to the world, without the local companies having to travel overseas," Dr Mohd Shahreen said.

MIHAS 2017 will host 633 exhibitors from over 30 countries and among the countries taking part in MIHAS this year are ASEAN member countries, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Palestine, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, just to name a few. Last year, 543 companies from 29 countries participated in the event and the event welcomed more than 22,000 visitors. This year the number of visitors is targeted to reach 25,000 people. The visitors comprise trade visitors from local and international organisations, associations, foreign delegations and others.

The Halal industry is gaining strong momentum for the past decade and much of this robust growth is fuelled by the high demand from not only Muslim population but the non-Muslims too.

"MIHAS is an avenue where all stakeholders in the public and private sector from Malaysia work collectively to promote the trade of Halal products and services, which will have a direct impact to the development of Islamic economy's ecosystem around the world," Dr Mohd Shahreen mentioned.

Inaugurated in 2004 with the vision of becoming a global halal marketplace, MIHAS has earned a reputation as the world's largest Halal trade fair. For more details on the event, visit www.mihas.com.my / www.mihas2017.my.