China
will have the biggest international presence at the 5th Malaysia
International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in Kuala Lumpur next month with
close to 100 Chinese companies and government agencies going to the
five-day event.
Too Kia Hong, new Malaysia External Trade
Development Corporation (Matrade) commissioner in Beijing, said many of
the buyers were also interested with meeting up Malaysia’s Islamic
Development Department (Jakim) officials.
“Malaysia’s halal
food certification is well-recognised around the world and they want to
see how they too can certify and enhance their products for the
international market,” he told Bernama.
Most of the Chinese
companies going are from Muslim food and animal farm industries and
they are also keen to acquire halal food processing expertise, food
packaging and machinery, he said.
Mihas, the world’s largest
trade fair of its kind, will be held at the Matrade Exhibition and
Convention Centre and apart from food, it showcases non-food products
and services, including Islamic banking, insurance and investments as
well.
As in previous years, Matrade offices in China, namely
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have arranged for groups of buyers to
attend business matching sessions during Mihas scheduled from May 7 to
11.
Eighteen Chinese companies will exhibit at the fair while
79 other enterprises and government agencies will send 107 buyers and
officials for the business sessions.
The exhibitors include 11
from Qinghai, three from Ningxia and two from Xinjiang, all three
regions which have sizeable Muslim populations. They will be promoting
Chinese herbs, honey bee products, organic meat including yak meat,
dried nuts and fruits, and chillies.
Too said Matrade Beijing
has arranged buyers from 27 companies and government agencies in
Xinjiang, Ningxia and northern eastern provinces like Liaoning and
Heilongjiang.
Based on the list, the government agencies
attending are the Liaoning Provincial Administration Association of
Muslim Trading Foodstuff, Chaoyang City Ethnic Affairs Commission and
China Muslim Enterprise Summit organising committee.
Two
companies from Xinjiang — Urumqi Tianshanniao Food Company and Kashi
Amina Muslim Food Company — are interested in sourcing for Malaysian
palm oil.
Malaysian halal food manufacturers are eyeing China as a lucrative market because of its 20 million Muslim population.
Meanwhile, Matrade Beijing has moved to its new premises at Tower B of Gateway Plaza in Chaoyang district.
Its telephone numbers 86-1084515109/5113 and fax 86-10-84515112 remain unchanged.
