MATRADE EYES JAPANESE PARTICIPATION AT MIHAS 2009

From Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

TOKYO, March 18 (Bernama) -- Japanese importers are expected to explore the
possibility of tapping halal food industry at the coming sixth Malaysia
International Halal Showcase 2009 (Mihas 2009).

"We are now working to get some food importers from Japan to participate in
Mihas 2009 and explore the potential industry," Malaysia External Trade
Development Corp (Matrade) trade commissioner in Japan, Yuslinawati Mohd Yusof,
told Bernama.

The Mihas 2009 will be held from May 6-10 at the Matrade Exhibition and
Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Yuslinawati said apart from giving the Japanese importers a look at Mihas
and explore the opportunities, Matrade would also arrange the business-matching
sessions for them.

She said Matrade's offices overseas would try to attract importers from all
over the world.

Yuslinawati said Matrade has identified potential Japanese participants.

However, she said, it was unfortunate that Mihas 2009 coincided with the
Japanese Golden Week Holiday.

"If not for the holiday, the participation from the Japanese will be
tremendous," she said.

She said there were plenty of opportunities for Malaysian exporters to enter
the Japanese market, particularly in the food industry.

"Japan is only 40 percent food sufficient and 60 percent is imported.

"The country, which currently depends on China for their food imports, was
looking for new food sources from other countries, including Malaysia," she
said.

Mihas is rapidly becoming the world's premier showcase of halal products and
services.

In conjunction with Mihas 2009, the Halal Industry Development Corp will be
organising the "The World Halal Research 2009" conference from May 7-8.

The conference is aimed at providing a platform for scientists, researchers,
scholars and academicians to discuss and exchange ideas on new research
findings, emerging technologies, trends, issues and challenges in the global
halal industry.

-- BERNAMA