Matrade hopes halal sector’s exports to Japan to increase further
The top three product categories with the highest export values are halal ingredients (RM1.22 billion), food and beverage (RM0.99 billion) and palm oil derivatives (RM0.26 billion).
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) hopes the halal sector’s exports to Japan would grow further, following the increase in the number of exporters and the rise in volume and value.
Chief executive officer, Ir Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, said Malaysia’s halal product exports to Japan increased by 20.8 per cent to RM2.67 billion in 2016 from RM2.21 billion in 2015.
“The top three product categories with the highest export values are halal ingredients (RM1.22 billion), food and beverage (RM0.99 billion) and palm oil derivatives (RM0.26 billion),” he told reporters on the sidelines of the ‘Business Opportunities on Halal Industry in Japan’ forum yesterday.
The forum was the conclusion of a year-long nationwide roadshow which was jointly organised by Matrade and the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro), held from Feb 22, 2017 to Feb 8, 2018.
AsidefromJetro,MohdShahreen said Matrade was also collaborating with the Malaysia Franchise Association and Asean Japan Trade Centre to organise 13 trade promotion programmes to boost
Ir Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, Matrade chief executive officer
the awareness among Malaysian exporters in terms of export opportunities for halal products in Japan.
“Halal business opportunities will be great at the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, with 40 million foreign visitors expected to visit Japan during the world’s biggest sporting event,” Mohd Shahreen said.
Meanwhile, Jetro Kuala Lumpur Managing director, Akira Kajita, said many Malaysian companies had established and invested in Japan and many had ventured into the halal food and beverage industry, including Brahim’s Food Japan Co Ltd, Bunga Raya Restaurant and Manhattan Fish Market Restaurant.
“Malaysian businesses should consider venturing into Japan and capitalise on its booming halal food sector to cater to demand for the products, especially for the country’s Muslim population and tourists,” he said.
He said the number of foreign visitors to Japan had increased by 20 per cent in 2016 to 24.04 million, of which one per cent or 240,000 were Muslim visitors. — Bernama