Exhibition Provides Opportunities For Tie-Ups With China Firms - MITI

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The 21st International Exhibition for Food, Drinks, Hospitality, Food Service, Bakery and Retail Industries (2017 FHC) provided opportunities for Malaysian entrepreneurs to explore collaborations with new business partners to export Malaysian food and beverage products to China as well as globally. In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said their participation in the exhibition was coordinated by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM). This year, 28 Malaysian companies participated in the three-day exhibition which was held in Shanghai from Nov 14, 2017, it said. Second Minister of International Trade and Industry, Ong Ka Chuan, was also present to meet potential investors with strong interests from Shanghai to expand their businesses into Malaysia, it said. “Overall, the 2017 FHC registered 2,350 participants from 73 countries and regions. Many participating countries, including Malaysia, set up their respective national pavilions at the exhibition. “In addition, China’s major trading partners, such as US, Italy, France, India, South Korea, Tunisia and Brazil, had their promotional booths as well,” it said. The ministry said China’s middle-income population has become affluent and they had an affinity towards Malaysian products due to high quality and taste. “The China market gained traction and enormous interest from the Malaysian business community as a result of the Malaysia Promotion Programme 2016 in Shanghai, spearheaded by the Malaysian government,” it said. Malaysia’s trade with China in January-September 2017 rose by 24.8 per cent to US$50.89 billion (RM212.94 billion) compared with the corresponding period in 2016. Export to China surged by 35.3 per cent to US$21.95 billion (RM91.87 billion) due to higher exports of electrical and electronic products, petroleum products, rubber products, chemicals and chemical products as well as liquefied natural gas. -- BERNAMA