Asia
Roaring success seen for halal trade show
By Zurinna Raja Adam, Business Times
Apr 30, 2007, 10:45

THE number of international participants for the upcoming International Halal Showcase 2007 (Mihas 2007) jumped by a significant 60 per cent, an indicator of the fast-growing global attention towards the halal industry.

The trade show for this year has so far attracted 98 international companies from 27 countries, taking up 106 booths. Last year 17 countries participated in the trade show.

Themed "Expanding The Global Halal Frontier", the fourth Mihas 2007 will be held in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 9-13, after the World Halal Forum on May 7 and 8.

"The global halal market is getting a lot of attention and interest and international players are already seizing the opportunity in this lucrative market," Malaysia External Trade Development Corp Datuk Noharuddin Nordin said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"The participation by five new countries, namely Argentina, Canada, China, Kuwait and Morocco, this year shows that non-Muslim countries are fast capitalising on the industry," he said when briefing reporters on the latest development of Mihas 2007.

"We are also happy to note a hike in number of booths being taken up from countries like Australia, Singapore and the Philippines this year," Noharuddin said adding that more than 90 per cent of Mihas exhibitors are repeat customers.

This, he said, will provide better exposure for local small- and medium-sized enterprise participants to promote their products to international buyers.

Mihas 2007 is expected to hold more than 2,000 international business-matching sessions to meet its RM200 million sales projection this year. Last year, the event recorded about RM168.3 million sales.

© Copyright 2006 by halaljournal.com