International Islamic Trade, Business and Tourism Fair 2015 to be held 30 January

Source: i-TRADEBIZ.

The International Islamic Trade, Business and Tourism Fair 2015 (i-TRADEBIZ 2015) will debut in Malaysia at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 30 January 2015. 

The three-day event is organised by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture through its Islamic Tourism Center and Malaysian People Unity Welfare Foundation (Yayasan Kebajikan Perpaduan Rakyat Malaysia) and supported by Ministry of International Trade (MITI) with the theme of Trade, Business & Tourism. Participation is expected from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, ASEAN countries and areas where there are Muslim minorities. 

The event will be the launchpad for the Malaysia, China and Muslim Countries' Chamber of Commerce (MCMCC). The fair's Secretariat Chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman said the chamber of commerce is a joint initiative from the secretariat as well as from China's International New Silk Road Cultural Committee (ICNSRC) Chairman Dato' Paduka Tan Thian Lai. 

Source: i-TRADEBIZ.
Abdul Halim.

"Malaysia has good relationship with the OIC and we want to use Malaysia as the standard of communication between the countries," said Abdul Halim. "The main objective for the establishment of the MCMCC is to make Malaysia a hub between China and Muslim countries. We will promote Malaysia as the Asian and global hub for China's cultural, trade and commerce activities with Muslim countries."

 

At a press conference to announce the fair earlier this month, Abdul Halim said the event is inspired by Admiral Cheng Ho's voyages and the silk route. "The legacy continues here in Malaysia with the formation of the MCMCC (Dewan perniagaan Malaysia, China dan Negara-negara islam), which was initiated to unite all Muslim and non-Muslim countries to build a strong Asian trading network," he said. 

Abdul Halim said China as the strongest economy in Asia should take the lead in uniting Asia, while Malaysia as a strong member of the OIC can acting as the hub for business, culture and tourism between Muslim nations, minority Muslim nations and China. He also noted that Admiral Cheng Ho, a Muslim, had visited 45 nations and returned to China with knowledge, culture and trade agreements. 

"The intention of this exhibition is to create this awareness and relationship. We have about 250 booths with exhibitors from manufacturing, construction, trading, plantations, investments, tourism, electronics, silk and ceramics," he said. 

The secretariat expects some 30,000 visitors to visit the fair, which will have daily workshops along with business matching on the final day of the exhibition. International VIP guests will include senior government officials from Ningxia, China and from Indonesia. 

Dato' Paduka Tan, who is also the Co-chairman of i-TRADEBIZ 2015 and Chairman of the MCMCC, said in a statement in early January that the event is endorsed by the Chinese government which will act as facilitators to business partnerships and trade opportunities in exporting and importing of products and services between the countries. The ICNSRC will also be present to facilitate discussions on national infrastructure projects and development programmes.

"Through the MCMCC we are organising business matching activities," Abdul Halim said during the press conference. "The list is very encouraging and expanding. Since the President, Vice President and CEO of many of the participating China companies will be coming, we looking forward to new ventures, contracts and partnerships."