MALAYSIAN FOOD COMPANIES READY TO TACKLE GULFOOD 2011

By Abdul Muin Majid

DUBAI, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies participating in the Gulfood
2011 exhibition here from this Sunday will offer a wide range of food-related
products and services as they vie for lucrative deals and seek to strengthen
their foothold in the Middle East and surrounding markets.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said a total
of 63 Malaysian exhibitors would be present at the four-day show, including 54
companies taking part under the Matrade umbrella.

"We're hopeful that some good business deals can be made at the event,"
Matrade Dubai's senior trade commissioner Dzulkifli Mahmud told Bernama
ahead of the trade show at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention
Centre (DICEC).

According to the trade envoy, it made good sense for Malaysian companies to
peddle their products at the show in Dubai, a city-state in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), which prides itself as a major commercial hub in the region.

"Success and brand presence in Dubai can be used to leverage supply to the
wider Gulf Cooperation Council region," Dzulkifli said, alluding to the
regional body comprising Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the
UAE.

He pointed out that Dubai reached out to over 100 countries with 2.8
billion consumers, including those in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent
and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)of former Soviet Republics as well
as Africa.

Between 2005-2009, Dubai's foodstuff trade rose by 90 per cent to 27.36
billion dirhams, Dzulkifli said, citing data from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce
and Industry.

Malaysia, he noted, was strong in terms of halal products which would find
a ready market in Muslim countries across the Middle East region and beyond.

According to Matrade, Malaysia exported a sizeable amount of processed food
items to the UAE in 2010.

The list featured processed meat worth RM32 million, dairy products (RM26
million), processed seafood (RM1.6 million), prepared cereals and flour
preparation (RM35.1 million), prepared and preserved fruits and vegetables
(RM13.6 million) and sugar and sugar confectionery (RM3.8 million).

Other items included cocoa and cocoa preparations (RM40 million), tea
preparations (RM1.6 million), margarine and shortening (RM19.3 million) and
other edible products (RM55 million).