BANGKOK, March 13 (Bernama) — The world’s largest halal trade fair, the Malaysian International 
Halal Showcase (Mihas), is a testimony of Malaysia’s commitment in becoming a global halal industry hub and its prime mover.
Shapers Malaysia Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdullah said the 13th edition of Mihas from March 30 to April 2 would gather over 560 companies from 28 countries.
Mohd Shukri, who initiated and started the trade expo in 2004, expects the event to attract some 22,000 trade visitors from 63 countries.
“Mihas proves our commitment in becoming a global halal industry hub by creating its market place and we have fulfilled the promise. We are the torch bearer and leader of the halal world,” he told Bernama here recently.
Mihas features the World Halal Summit and the World Halal Conference, he said, adding that it also involved the participation of agencies like the Islamic Development Department, the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and the National Halal Council.
Mohd Shukri said Thailand would be taking 38 booths at Mihas this time around, while plans were afoot for Shapers to hold the Halal Fiesta (HalFest) in the kingdom next year after Singapore in December this year.
Apart from business-matching sessions between overseas importers and local halal companies, he said Mihas 2016 will array between 3,000 and 6,000 meetings, culminating in sales, he said, adding that last year, Mihas generated over RM600 million in sales.
“There are four business cycles in a year with overall sales reaching RM2.4 billion,” he said, citing Mihas as a platform for people to showcase their products and services.
Mihas is organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
— BERNAMA
