MALAYSIAN EXHIBITORS RAKE IN MILLIONS AT GULFOOD 2010

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, March 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysian exhibitors who took part in Gulfood
2010 here last week secured RM7.8 million in confirmed orders as well as
potential sales worth RM32.2 million (US$9.47 million).

The 48 food-related companies brought in by Malaysia External Trade
Development Corporation (Matrade) for the Feb 21-24 exhibition were joined by
five entities under Malaysia's east coast state of Terengganu State Entrepreneur
Development Foundation.

They enticed trade visitors with products such as sauces, health food
supplements, vegetable oil, chocolates, energy drink, coffee and tea,
ready-to-eat frozen foods, cocoa, confectionery items, biscuits, health food,
fruit juices, packaging machinery and others.

"Malaysian food products are widely accepted in this part of the world
because of their stringent standards and high quality," Malaysia's trade
commissioner in Dubai Dzulkifli Mahmud told Bernama.

In addition, he said, Malaysia's halal certification accorded the products
an added advantage in marketing them here.

Held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gulfood
was touted as Middle East's largest specialised foodstuff, beverages and
equipment show.

Citing official sources, Dzulkifli said Dubai was one of the largest
importers of foodstuff in the region, with imports of foodstuff and beverages
valued at over US$4.32 billion in 2008 compared to US$3.87 billion in 2007.

More than 75 per cent of its imports of foodstuff are for re-export to
other Gulf countries.

According to Dzulkifli, Malaysia's exports of processed foodstuff to United
Arab Emirates (UAE) decreased from RM381.8 million (US$112.29 milion)in 2008 to
RM214.1 (US$62.97 million) million in 2009.

The trade commissioner attributed this mainly to the economic slowdown
experienced by the UAE last year.

"However, it's expected that growth will return in 2010," he said
optimistically.

Dzulkifli said it made sense for Malaysian firms to come to the UAE as it
had established itself as the re-export centre of the Middle East, supplying to
more than 1.8 billion people in the region and beyond.

They include countries such as neighbouring Gulf states, Iran, Iraq, India,
Pakistan, Afghanistan and CIS countries.

During 2008, UAE's re-exports were valued at US$32.78 billion, of which
prepared foodstuff amounted to US$603 million.

"UAE, in particular Dubai, offers tremendous opportunities to Malaysian
manufacturers and suppliers of food products who are interested to use Dubai as
a trading hub," Dzulkifli added.
-- BERNAMA


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