By Niam Seet Wei
BEIJING, April 17 (Bernama) — Chinese buyers topped the sales list at the Incoming Buying Mission (IBM) at the 10th International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) with sales of RM213.15 million or 51.82 per cent of the total sales of RM411.32 million.
The 7-eleven Co Ltd in China alone secured a total of RM8.25 million in purchase value at the IBM, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Senior Trade Commissioner in Beijing, Abu Bakar Yusof, told Bernama here on Tuesday.
Chinese buyers were sourcing mostly food and beverage (F&B) products, as well as cosmetics and toiletries, he said.
Abu Bakar said Matrade in Beijing alone has attracted sales worth RM76.80 million from 25 buyers in Beijing.
Sales to Korean buyers ranked second at RM31 million (7.55 per cent), followed by Taiwan (7.05 per cent), Uzbekistan (4.68 per cent) and the United Arab Emirates (3.55 per cent), he said.
MIHAS 2013, themed ‘A Decade of Excellence’ and held on April 3-6 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), attracted 353 buyers from 53 countries, with a total of 4,020 meetings organised between foreign buyers and 391 Malaysian companies.
Abu Bakar said Chinese buyers alone accounted for 94 of the total participants, while Korean buyers ranked second with 29 buyers, followed by 28 buyers from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Abu Bakar said Matrade Beijing will organise a trade and investment exhibition in Beijing and Tianjin on May 10-14.
“About eight to 10 Malaysian companies will participate, including those from the F&B, medical and healthcare industries, ” he said.
He said another “Luxury China Expo” will be held in Beijing on June 22-24 to promote high-value products such as jewellery, high-end furniture, fashion and textiles.
“Business matching programmes will be organised for Malaysian companies and Chinese buyers in these exhibitions,” Abu Bakar added.