16 M'SIAN COMPANIES AT WORLD'S LARGEST PLASTICS AND RUBBER FAIR IN DUESSELDORF

BY Manik Mehta

DUESSELDORF, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- A contingent of 16 Malaysian companies has
descended on Duesseldorf, known for its cluster of leading corporate players
involved in all aspects of fashion, to participate in K'2010, the world's
largest plastics and rubber fair.

Thirteen of the companies are participating under the umbrella of the
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), according to its
Frankfurt office which organises their participation in the eight-day fair that
opened Wednesday and will run until Nov 3.

The remaining three exhibitors are participating on their own.

According to Sabri Mohd Rahman, the Frankfurt-based senior Malaysian trade
commissioner, the K'2010 is perhaps the most important international platform
for Malaysian companies to showcase their products and prowess in the field of
plastics and rubber.

Sabri, who was at the Duesseldorf fair ground to assist the Malaysian
exhibitors, was bullish about Malaysia's chances of getting good business.

"The business climate is gradually improving, after the recent serious
global economic crisis, and this augurs well for Malaysia's exports," he told
Bernama.

Besides participating in the fair, a special marketing mission for rubber
and plastics products earlier paid visits to two German factories and came back
satisfied at the progress of discussions with the German directors of the
two companies.

Indeed, the German companies held out the prospect of good business,
provided the Malaysian companies proved their reliability in terms of quality,
delivery dates and pricing.

In general, Germany has come out of a severe recession and joblessness,
according to the latest data released by the Federal German Bureau of
Statistics.

Sabri underscored the importance of the German market for the Malaysian
suppliers of plastics and rubber products.

Among European Union countries, Germany is Malaysia's largest trading
partner with Malaysia's total exports to Germany in 2009 amounting to RM14.83
billion.

German trade experts envisage a surge in trade with Malaysia in the coming
year when the German economy is expected to further strengthen.

In 2009, Malaysia's exports of rubber and plastics products to Germany
amounted to RM14.83 billion (US$4.78 billion), according to Matrade's Frankfurt
office.

From January to June 2010, Malaysia's exports of rubber and plastics
products to Germany amounted to RM340.7 million (US$109.90 million) and RM60.2
million (US$19.41 million) respectively.

The booths of the Malaysian exhibitors witness a steady stream of
interested buyers not only from Germany but also from Asia and North America.
-- BERNAMA