MATRADE BRINGS FIVE FURNITURE FIRMS TO MILAN TRADE SHOW

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Five Malaysian companies are in Milan,
Italy, to take part in the world's leading furniture and fitting trade show, the
Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano.

The companies namely Design Principles Sdn Bhd, Best Store Corporation Sdn
Bhd, Furnitech Industries (M) Sdn Bhd, Jendela Batik Sdn Bhd and Kian Contract
Sdn Bhd are participating under a Malaysian national pavilion organised and led
by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

The six-day exhibition began Wednesday, Matrade said in a statement.

It said that although Italy was known as a leading furniture manufacturing
country, recent trends showed that it was now increasing dependent on imports,
valued at ?2.35 billion (US$3.13 billion) last year.

With furniture exports to Italy in 2009 valued at ?11.67 million (US$15.92
million), Malaysia was among the largest Asean exporters after Indonesia,
Vietnam and Thailand, it added.

"Italian importers are keen in diversifying their sources of imports and
Matrade is encouraging Malaysian furniture companies to explore opportunities
arising to those Malaysia exporters who can meet the design and quality
standards demanded by the Italian market.

"One of those opportunities will be to integrate local suppliers of
furniture with overseas construction companies and interior designers. Such
collaboration will allow more avenues to promote Malaysian furniture besides the
conventional way of seeking buyers and distributors," Matrade said.
-- BERNAMA