MIHAS 2023 will be held at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre ( MITEC ), Kuala Lumpur .

The 19th edition of MIHAS this year is expected to welcome more international and local participants .

INTERNATIONAL SOURCING PROGRAMME ( INSP )

• In conjunction with the 19th MIHAS , MATRADE is organising pre-arranged , one-to-one business meetings between selected genuine international importers and Malaysian exporters .

• With a target of 400 local sellers and 240 foreign buyers , including 10 premium buyers

booths . As it requires four booths to form a pavilion , this year ’ s numbers demonstrate that more countries are sending representatives . One possibility could be the closing of borders , which hindered some from participating significantly last year .”

Under the theme ‘ Paving the Way of Halal ’, this year ’ s showcase seamlessly blends the finest elements of virtual and traditional exhibitions . Mustafa highlighted that attendees could physically participate in the event or virtually log in from anywhere to explore the diverse offerings .

He shared that MIHAS 2023 would adopt a hybrid format , blending an actual exhibition with a fully interactive multimedia webpage to showcase products and services . This innovative approach is expected to attract a larger audience and engage participants more effectively .

“ The pandemic taught the world many valuable lessons ; one of the most important ones is that we now have the skills and know-how to think beyond physical connections and can leverage virtual meetings to get things done .

“ Thus , as the largest halal showcase in the world , MIHAS will continue this hybrid format as it allows us to reach more people and simultaneously provide interested businesses options on how to capitalise on the opportunities presented .”

He believes that this form of flexibility and optimised accessibility opens the doors for the participation of more international buyers , as it enables catering to different time zones and facilitates cross-border communication that would have been difficult without the virtual format .

EXPECTATIONS FOR MIHAS 2023

“ This year , our virtual INSP kicked off in March and is ongoing till Nov 30 , 2023 . Our physical INSP is on Sept 11 , 2023 , at Menara MATRADE . We expect 400 local sellers and 240 foreign buyers to converge , possibly sealing various trade deals which will contribute significantly to the nation ’ s GDP .

“ In the past , the 2022 INSP MIHAS edition matched 389 foreign customers with 510 Malaysian businesses . Given the excellent results , I have high hopes that the exposure Malaysia ’ s traders will gain will positively influence the momentum of cross-border trade ,” Mustafa elaborated .

He expressed optimism about achieving the projected overall sales goal of RM2.1 billion for MIHAS this year . In fulfilling their responsibilities , Mustafa explained that MATRADE had been compelled by the strain of recent global inflation and rising prices to adopt sustainable approaches such as public-private partnerships ( PPP ) and the private financing initiative ( PFI ).

“ We believe that with a concerted effort from both the public and private sectors , as we move forward , we will be able to capitalise and leverage trade deals which will emerge post-MIHAS 2023 .

“ I also have this dream to internationalise MIHAS . It ’ s not easy , but it is possible .” – Xtra

from various countries , this programme will foster valuable B2B connections .

MIHAS KNOWLEDGE HUB

• This component features presentations by industry experts and market leaders , sharing their experiences and insights . The knowledge gained here will empower organisations to make informed

We revamped the entire workspace , including the underutilised areas , and brought in 700 new personnel . As a result , we rented out the space , generating revenue through strategic collaborations with the private sector such as DHL Express under the MATRADE brand .”

– Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz

decisions when expanding into new markets .

MIHAS AWARDS

• As in previous years , MIHAS will again host the MIHAS Awards , honouring outstanding exhibitors for their innovative products and services and significant contributions to the global halal market .

DATUK MOHD Mustafa Abdul Aziz is a man with a mission who truly lives up to his words . During an interview with @ Halal in 2021 , months after being appointed MATRADE CEO , he shared his vision to revolutionise MATRADE for the better .

Today , his dedicated efforts have yielded remarkable results , showcasing his unwavering commitment to realising his vision .

“ In the pursuit of excellence , we must have obvious objectives . In doing so , I had to spell out all the plans clearly and explain them to my people during town halls , even since the movement control order ( MCO ). After all these town halls , out of the 70 initiatives , 68 were executed . Only two more left .”

After assuming office at the end of 2020 , Mustafa swiftly initiated significant transformations at MATRADE .

“ We revamped the entire workspace , including the underutilised areas . As a result , we rented out the space , generating revenue through strategic collaborations with the private sector such as DHL Express under the MATRADE brand ."

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Mustafa considers himself the organisation ’ s leader due to his long association with MATRADE for the last 30 years since its inception . Having served under eight CEOs and eight chairpersons and spent 14 years as an officer overseas , he believes that his knowledge and experience would be wasted if not shared and given back to the organisation .

“ Why are some countries regarded as developed , and their culture and people are developed ? It is because they understand the direction of the country .

They were not developed before , but they achieved development through effective leadership ,” Mustafa explained .

When he took on the CEO role on Dec 25 , 2020 , he knew many people disapproved of his character . Being extroverted , dynamic , and proactive , some interpreted it as him showing off .

“ But deep inside , I said , if you want to see a different MATRADE and MATRADERS , this is the way .” Mustafa shared that he wanted to make MATRADE ' Gemilang , Terbilang disamping warganya yang Cemerlang ' ( Outstanding , distinguished alongside its brilliant people ). He said struggle held no meaning without courage and sacrifice . “ To make MATRADE an organisation of excellence , you must have three important elements : having the right attitude , having good values , and fostering the right and positive work culture . Now , where does it start ? With the senior management — the leadership of MATRADE .”

After the leaders had embraced the responsibility of guiding their teams , Mustafa initiated other essential agendas , such as championing sustainability and digitalisation and ensuring that MATRADERS comprehensively understood the National Trade Blueprint ( NTBp ) 2021-2025 .