MATRADE EYES BOOST IN F&B EXPORTS

Great opportunity for local companies to learn latest trends in the market

MALAYSIA External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) is spearheading Malaysia’s participation in SIAL Paris 2018, the world’s largest food innovation exhibition, which is ongoing until Thursday in France.

The participation is aimed at boosting exports of Malaysia’s food beverages (F&B) products to Europe and beyond.

It will provide local companies a great opportunity to learn latest trends in the market.

The country’s trade promotion agency said it would leverage the trade fair by capitalising on growing demand for new and innovative F&B products in Europe.

SIAL Paris, which is held biennially, has been identified as one of the ideal platforms for local companies to access the European market.

Matrade trade commissioner in Frankfurt, Germany, Badrul Hisham said Malaysian F&B products were well-recognised for their quality and innovativeness as the country was known to produce worldclass, halal and safe F&B products of the highest quality.

“Malaysian halal F&B products are exported worldwide, not only to Muslim countries but also to non-majority Muslim countries.

“Malaysia is a benchmark for halal products due to its conducive halal ecosystem,” he said.

Matrade expects the Malaysian halal F&B sector to garner the most attraction at the fair.

The country’s halal certification systems, standards and regulations, infrastructure, incentives, human capital and Islamic banking were well supported by effective frameworks.

The Malaysia Pavilion will feature brands of some 38 Malaysian exporters and will house three government bodies, namely the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Malaysian Pepper Board.

The participating Malaysian exporters will offer a wide range of products, such as coconut based products, coffee, tea and cocoa, ready-to-eat meals, beverages, noodles, confectioneries, cooking oil, frozen food, sauce and paste and functional food.

In 2016, Malaysian companies’ participation at the event had generated export sales of RM49.3 million.

Total trade between Malaysia and European Union (EU) amounted to RM174.9 billion last year — exports totalled RM95.3 billion, while imports amounted to RM79.6 billion.

France is Malaysia’s third largest trading partner in the EU.

Malaysia’s processed food exports to the EU were valued at RM367.7 million from January to August this year.