KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) 2018 recorded higher sales of RM1.52 billion compared with RM1.01 billion last year.

In a statement today, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) as the organiser of the event said sales were mainly contributed by two main components, namely the exhibition itself and a business matching programme called the International Sourcing Programme (INSP).

“Sales from the exhibition rose 29 per cent to RM914.57 million from RM708.82 million in 2017, while the INSP generated sales of RM602.45 million, an increase of 99.5 per cent from RM301.99 million last year,” it added.

Matrade said the top performing sectors at the halal trade event were prepared food, which recorded RM407.20 million in sales, and making up a 44.5 per cent share of total sales.

Advertisement

This was followed by beverages (RM129.3 million or 14.1 per cent of total sales), pharmaceuticals, toiletries and cosmetics (RM108.04 million or 11.8 per cent share), agricultural produce (RM68.53 million or 7.5 per cent share), as well as machinery and equipment (RM41.58 million or 4.6 per cent share).

On the INSP held on April 3, Matrade said it had attracted more than 182 prospective foreign buyers from 39 countries, with 2,094 business meetings arranged between the international buyers and 428 Malaysian exporters.

“Among the top countries with the highest export sales for Malaysian companies at the INSP were China (RM310.46 million or contributing 51.5 per cent share of total sales), India (RM75.61 million or 12.6 per cent share), Poland (RM71.34 million or 11.8 per cent share), Thailand (RM21.70 million or 3.6 per cent share) and the United States (RM20.13 million or 3.3 per cent share),” it said.

Advertisement

Matrade said the four-day event from April 4, had attracted 778 exhibitors from 32 countries and witnessed the first-time participation of Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Mihas 2018 received more than 21,000 visitors, comprising local and international companies, associations and foreign delegations with 33 Memorandums of Understanding also inked during the event. — Bernama