Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

TUESDAY, 3 APRIL 2018, KUALA LUMPUR: Over 350 Malaysian exporters and 189 foreign buyers from 41 countries took part in the International Sourcing Programme (INSP) held at Menara MATRADE, in conjunction with the 15th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2018, which will be held from 4-7 April 2018 at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.

The business matching initiative, taking place a day prior to the exhibition, is organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia’s trade promotion agency. Held every year in conjunction with MIHAS, the INSP is a key component of the trade event apart from its exhibition where the participating Malaysian companies get to enjoy the privilege of meeting with specially invited foreign buyers. The INSP is a cost-effective platform for Malaysian companies to meet potential buyers from around the world at the comfort of their own home country.

According to Mr.Khairul Annuar, the Director of Americas at MATRADE the objective of organising the INSP programme it to provide a viable avenue for Malaysian companies to access global buyers in a cost effective way. ‘We do hope that once the communication has been established, the relationship will grow further, strengthened by all the other MATRADE activities that we carry out throughout the year such as Export Acceleration Missions,’ he added.

The sectors highlighted at the INSP include Halal consumables (paste, sauces, ready-to-eat meals, and confectionery), Non-food products (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and palm oil-based products), certified premises (hotels, restaurants, central kitchens and slaughterhouses) and Islamic financial services (banking services, takaful and retirement & pension fund).

The top-5 Malaysian states recording the highest participation in this year’s INSP are Selangor (50%), Kuala Lumpur (13%), Johor (10%), Penang (6%) and Kedah (4%). According to Mr.Khairul, there were also many companies, which attended the event as walk-ins.

Last year, the INSP generated RM 300 million of sales with food and beverages sector having contributed the largest number of sales for the INSP. For this year event, MATRADE is targeting to match closely the outcome generated last year.

Among the countries involved in the 1-day event, include China, Cote D’Ivoire, India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, South Korea and Kazakhstan.

In total, MATRADE coordinated more than 2,000 business meetings between the local and foreign companies.

MIHAS 2018 will host over 800 exhibitors and will feature Halal products and services from over 35 countries. The event is expected to welcome 25,000 visitors and the participants come
from all over ASEAN, East Asia, North Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

MIHAS which was incepted in 2004 with the vision of making Malaysia a global halal marketplace, has earned a reputation as the world’s largest Halal trade fair. Organised by MATRADE, it is hosted by Ministry of International Trade and Industry in association of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and Halal Development Corporation (HDC). For more details on the event, visit www.mihas.com.my.