KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) — 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
