@Halal Nov/Dec 2019 | Page 11

11 november-december. 2019 | @Halal The showcase for all things halal A The Malaysian International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) has been the strengthening factor in Malaysia becoming the world leader in the halal trade. as a thought leader in the global Halal industry - and not just amongst Islamic nations. MIHAS – Malaysia International Halal Showcase A key driving force behind the rapid development of the Halal export industry stems from the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, or, MIHAS. Started in 2004, MIHAS has been around for 16 years, and is a yearly event organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation or MATRADE. The trade fair has so far attracted more than 8,100 exhibitors from 88 countries, and received almost 400,000 visitors glob- ally since its inception. Attendees, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), find it to be a great springboard from which they can expand globally. Over the past 16 years, global compa- nies have been looking to the expo to find the latest Halal product offerings and ser- vices across Halal industry value chains. Aside from F&B, other sectors which were highlighted at the expo, are phar- maceuticals, cosmetics, Islamic tourism, digital & e-commerce, logistics, modest fashion and Islamic finance. In 2019, MIHAS attracted 1,002 exhibi- tors and 29,946 visitors from almost 90 countries. It was also a momentous event that saw the participation of emerging Halal markets such as Cambodia, Azerbai- jan and Uzbekistan. key driving force behind the rapid development of the Halal export industry stems from the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, or, MIHAS. Started in 2004, MIHAS has been around for 16 years, and is a yearly event organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corpo- ration or MATRADE. The trade fair has so far attracted more than 8,100 exhibitors from 88 countries, and received almost 400,000 visitors globally since its inception. Attendees, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), find it to be a great spring- board from which they can expand globally. Attendees run the gamut from Halal- certified and trade-ready companies, buyers, leading brands, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from around the world. Visitors can expect to find players from countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, China, Belgium, Iran, France, India, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and more at MIHAS 2020. Over the past 16 years, global companies have been looking to the expo to find the latest Halal product offerings and services across Halal industry value chains. Aside from F&B, other sectors which were highlighted at the expo, are pharmaceuticals, cosmet- ics, Islamic tourism, digital & e-commerce, logistics, modest fashion and Islamic finance. In 2019, MIHAS attracted 1,002 exhibitors and 29,946 visitors from almost 90 countries. It was also a momentous event that saw the participation of emerging Halal markets such as Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Business and Growth Opportunities Galore at MIHAS 2020 MIHAS 2020 provides opportunities for business meetings, networking and learn- ing, on top of organising talks and fora by industry-renowned experts from global Halal industries. Exhibitors and visitors can expect to ben- efit from MIHAS 2020 by learning to maintain their competitive edge in the ever-evolving global standards, while newer players seek- ing to expand can draw on the expertise and The International Sourcing Programme (INSP), which facilitates Malaysian and foreign companies to meet with global buyers from over 40 countries at the buyers-sellers business matching session held simultaneously with MIHAS 2019. (Top) Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah visiting one of the booths during MIHAS 2019. As an international halal trade exhibition, MIHAS typically receives exhibitors from the food & beverages sector as the majority. networking opportunities offered. Of interest is the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), which facilitates Malay- sian and foreign companies to meet with global buyers from over 40 countries at the buyers-sellers business matching session. Since 2005, the INSP has recorded over RM 17.24 billion in cumulative trade, making it an attractive feature of the expo. MIHAS: Fostering Innovation In keeping up with industry trends, MIHAS is also a platform for Malaysian companies to champion Industry 4.0 by gathering like- minded players in support of technological advancement and innovation in the Halal industry. In line with the spirit of innovation, new programmes were introduced since MIHAS 2018, such as seminars and conferences that were concurrently held with the exhibition. Examples included the MATRADE Trade Talk, the Islamic Trade Finance Conference, MyPitch@MIHAS, the Halal Innovation Festival, Product Invention for Future Halal Market, IMHalal Conference, and the Muslim Friendly Tourism Forum.