MATRADE spells out advantages of attending International Sourcing Programme event at MIHAS 2016

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has urged Malaysian companies to participate in the International Sourcing Programme (INSP) to be held in conjunction with Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2016 this 29 March 2016. The INSP will be attended by 450 buyers from 39 countries.

Set to take place at Menara MATRADE, the INSP is free for export-ready Malaysian companies providing food and non-food halal products as well as shari'ah compliance services.

“Malaysian companies should join this business matching programme as we are bringing in high-potential buyers from various continents. By meeting the buyers here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian companies get to cost-effectively expand their global business. There is no cost for them to participate in the INSP; they should capitalise on such a platform,” said MATRADE’s CEO Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud.

In the current economic landscape, the INSP is considered one of the best platforms for Malaysian companies in the halal sector to meet global buyers as there is no need for them to bear overseas travelling costs. MATRADE encourages companies offering halal products and services to leverage on the one-on-one pre-arranged business meetings scheduled for them once they registered in the INSP. 

The INSP will host buyers from countries such as the US, France, Japan, China, Russia, Korea, Turkey and South Africa. The participation of these non-majority Muslim markets indicates a growing interest among the world’s players for halal products and services. Popular halal products sourced by foreign buyers during the INSP include ready-to-eat meals, food ingredients, beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal care, confectionery and services such as Islamic finance.

MIHAS 2016, which is returning for the 13th year from 30 March to 2 April 2016, features a trade fair as well as the INSP. The annual event, the world’s largest halal trade event, will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). 

The trade fair showcases products and services such as halal consumables, non-food products and services, food packaging, machinery and catering equipment, Islamic investment, banking and takaful. A total of 640 booths will be set up and over 25,000 visitors are expected to attend. Twenty-six countries from the ASEAN region, Middle East, South Asia and Europe will be represented. 

"Malaysia has earned an international recognition as one of the pioneers in the global halal marketplace. The halal ecosystem is well developed in Malaysia, and this is a strong catalyst for the huge growth in the industry,” said Dato’ Dzulkifli.

Last year, the business matching programme had successfully generated RM443.2 million of sales while the sales from the trade fair reached RM655.8 million, bringing the total sales of MIHAS 2015 to RM1.1 billion. With an interplay of various external factors in the global economies, these figures are expected to increase by 2% this year.

MIHAS 2016 is part of World Halal Week (WHW), the brainchild of Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade & Industry. Other components of the WHW are World Halal Conference 2016 organised by Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) and the Halal Certification Bodies Convention organised by Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM). The WHW 2016 brings together industry players and halal experts from all over the world. It also embodies Malaysia’s aspiration to be the main driver in creating a dynamic ecosystem for the halal industry that world players can draw inspirations from.

Interested?

Register for the INSP by emailing to ice at matrade.gov.my or call +603 6207 7489 / 7490.

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about plans for MIHAS 2016

Hashtag: #mihas2016

MATRADE shares 2016 plans for halal food and health events

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has unveiled its Work Programme 2016, listing 150 programmes that the trade promotion agency is participating in for the next year. The programmes were selected by factoring in the prevailing global and domestic macroeconomic trends such as the growth of emerging markets and the modernisation of international economic governance. 

Malaysian companies will be represented at Gulfood 2016 in the UAE from 21 to 25 February 2016, as well as at MIHAS 2016 in Malaysia, from 30 March to 2 April 2016. Medical events which MATRADE will participate in include Arab Health 2016 from 25 to 28 January in the UAE, and Singapore's Medical Fair Asia 2016 from 31 August to 2 September.

Source: MATRADE Export Promotion Programmes 2016. Event participation in food and health events for 2016.

MATRADE’s Work Programme 2016’s lineup is in accordance with the National Export Council (NEC) strategies that emphasise on addressing the immediate needs of the Malaysian trading community and improving their export presence around the world. The programmes are set to complement NEC’s other strategies towards improving Malaysia’s export ecosystem.

Interested?

Download MATRADE's Export Promotion Programmes 2016 (PDF)

Hashtag: #mihas2016

Malaysia's MATRADE issues advisory on halal labelling in Canada

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)  announced on 21 July that the government of Canada has introduced a new guideline on labelling of halal food products which will be enforced in April 2016.

The new guidelines require that halal claims on food labels, packaging or advertising materials must include the entire name of the certifying body or person.

According to the new regulation, a person must not use in labelling, packaging, advertising or selling of food, the word “halal” or any letters of the Arabic alphabet or any other word, depiction, sign, or other representation that indicates or that is likely to create an impression that the food is halal unless the name of the person or agency that certified the food as halal is indicated. The food manufacturers also have the option to print additional information such as website of the certifying body on the product label.

According to Malaysia Trade Commissioner in Toronto Norzihan Mohd Zain, “Canada offers US$1 billion worth of market for halal products. Therefore, Malaysia’s exporters of halal products should tap into this market and leverage on Canada’s recognition of Malaysia as a reliable producer of halal products as well as the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) halal certification.

“With the implementation of the new guideline, consumers are able to rest assured that the food meets a certifying body's standard and allow them to obtain specific information about the standards the food has met.  This change will also provide consistency for industry and help prevent mislabeling practices and claims regarding halal food products."

Malaysian companies can contact MATRADE Toronto to find out more.