Japanese food companies participated in “Hokkaido, Hiroshima & Japanese Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Business Matching in KL 2018”

Muslim-friendly Japanese food to penetrate Halal market

A total of 40 food companies from all over Japan gathered at the “Hokkaido, Hiroshima and Japanese Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Business Matching in KL 2018” organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) together with Hokkaido and Hiroshima Prefecture on Sept 6.

This event lured many trade visitors and buyers who came to conduct business meeting and explore new business opportunities. In fact, it was aimed at facilitating and promoting the export of more exceptional quality Japanese food agriculture, fisheries and food products to the Malaysian market, which has a combination of wealthier Malaysian-Chinese consumers as well as Malay Muslims constituting 70 per cent of the Malaysian population.

In view of the booming halal food market in Malaysia, the organiser specially arranged eight Japanese companies producing halal-certified food to introduce and market their products to the local buyers. In fact, this event brought together the Japanese food suppliers from Hokkaido, Hiroshima and other prefectures of Japan to showcase about 100 food and beverages. For example soy sauce ramen with no pork and alcohol, Japanese retort curry, confectionery, tea, seasoning and so on. With growing popularity of conveyor belt sushi restaurants and increasing number of Japanese restaurants in Malaysia, 10 seafood companies were also invited to participate and exhibit seafood such as frozen oyster, tuna and boiled conge reel which are well received by the majority of Malaysians.

As an initiative to raise the matching contract rate, Jetro has arranged the representatives of several Japanese food companies that have obtained halal food certification to visit importers, retailers and restaurant operators in advance so as to connect them with potential buyers and facilitate them in promoting their food products.

There were also two sessions of cooking demonstration, in which Chef Shuji Hamagami of Teppanyaki Matsuoka tantalised the taste buds of the trade visitors and buyers with his unique Muslim-friendly recipes.