Arab News
Malaysian International Halal Show (MIHAS 2014) is set for opening on Wednesday. The four-day event is being held at a time when annual value of halal market worldwide reached $2.3 trillion, according to Wan Azahmuddin Josoh, deputy director of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
MIHAS 2014 being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) with the theme “Energizing halal business growth,’’ Azahmuddin told a press conference at MATRADE’s headquarters.
“The 11th MIHAS has gained the reputation of being the ideal stage for the halal industry that offers a wide ranging product from merely food to non-food and other services, outstanding networking and business matching program, activities by exhibitors as well as product testing and showcases.
MIHAS 2014 showcases a wide range of products and services with greater participation from international exhibitors,” he added.
Speaking to Arab News, Azahmuddin said: “We have many clients now in several African countries. However, the halal industry has attracted other Western countries like the UK, Brazil, Poland and the United States. There are many clients from these countries who have shown keenness to import halal products.”
MIHAS 2014 provides other services, including halal certified premises, investments, banking and takaful, while 6 key sectors featured at the event include food and beverages, halal ingredients, pharmaceuticals, herbal products, cosmetics and health care, banking and finance, and food processing and packaging machinery.
Meanwhile, a number of small and medium Saudi firms started holding meetings with Malaysian firms to import halal food products.
Saudi businessmen told Arab News that Malaysian firms have worldwide presence of their halal products. “The Saudi market focuses more on halal food products, while there are other markets that prefer to import pharmaceuticals, herbal products, cosmetics and health care,” one of them said.
