M'SIAN FOOD COMPANIES SECURE US$6.64 MLN IN SALES AT PARIS TRADE FAIR

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysian food companies secured RM20.8
million (US$6.64 million) (US$1=RM3.13) in sales at last month's Salon
International de l'Alimentation Paris 2010 trade fair.

A further RM40.3 million (US$12.86 million) potential sales was identified,
said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) in a
statement Wednesday.

Matrade led the participation of 30 Malaysian companies at the event held in
Paris from Oct 17 to 21.

"Despite the ongoing transport union strikes that occurred every day all
over the country, which disrupted public transport severely in Paris and
affected the number of visitors to the fair, Malaysian exhibitors still managed
to record highly encouraging numbers in term of trade inquiries and concluded
sales," Matrade Chief Executive Officer Noharuddin Nordin said.

"The most sought after Malaysian products were palm oil products, coconut
products, cooked vegetarian food, cookies, biscuits and oat-based products," he
added.

At the trade fair, Malaysian companies promoted products ranging from
palm oil products, pepper products, snack foods, frozen foods, seafood,
ready-to-eat meals, beverages, fruit juices, sauces, confectionary products,
cookies and biscuits.

"In order to attract visitors to the Malaysian pavilion, Matrade organised
cooking demonstration and food tastings of Malaysian cuisine twice a day using
ingredients and products from our exhibitors.

"It was a definite crowd puller and attracted a lot of trade visitors and
media attention," Noharuddin said.

For the Jan-Sept period, Malaysia exported RM84.4 million (US$26.94 million)
worth of food products to France.

-- BERNAMA