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Last Updated: Jun 25th, 2007 - 17:07:26 |
Halal industry expo booths snapped up
By Chong Jin Hun
jinhun@nstp.com.my
March 9 2007
MORE than 90 per cent of exhibition booths for the upcoming Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) this May has already been taken up, the organisers said.
A total of 468 booths out of the 514 exhibition units planned for the event have been snapped up by 369 multi-sectoral local and foreign companies, said Mihas chief executive Mohd Shukri Abdullah.
"This year, we are targeting (exhibitors from) around 25 countries, and so far we have 20 countries. At least 30 per cent will be foreigners," Shukri said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday at a media briefing on the event.
The trade event, held annually in Malaysia since 2004, has roped in exhibitors from the US, China and Saudi Arabia.
He said the encouraging response is a testimony of the global community's interest in Syariah-compliant products and services.
Mihas embraces a holistic approach to halal offerings, from food and beverage, and pharmaceutical products to Syariah-compliant financing and logistic services, among others.
The 2007 programme has so far been promoted in seven countries - Europe, Africa, and the Asia Pacific since last year.
The marketing efforts, to be finalised this April, will also include four Middle East countries - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates - before the final stop in Singapore.
Preparations for Mihas 2008 is also on-going, with planned visits to China and several Central Asian nations on the cards.
Based on estimates by the Malaysian Government, Shukri said, the world halal industry is worth US$2.1 trillion (RM7.37 trillion) a year, driven by demand from the world Muslim population of some 1.6 billion people.
Mihas 2007 will be held from this May 9 to 13 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre shortly after the World Halal Forum on May 7 and 8 at the same venue.
The exhibition, spearheaded by Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Ministry, is expected to attract some 35,000 visitors, a 30 per cent increase from the 27,000 turnout in 2006.
It was reported last year that the Government had earmarked close to RM100 million to make Malaysia a global halal hub.
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