The 17th edition of The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2021), hosted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), will start on September 9, 2021.
Themed ‘Empowering Halal, Tomorrow, Together’, MIHAS 2021, the longest running global halal trade showcase in the world, will virtually be accessible for the first time ever until December 31, 2021.
Saying the global halal economy is facing challenges posed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has set higher goals and says it is going to be a catalyst in reviving the halal industry worldwide.
Speaking at the MIHAS 2021 virtual media launch, MATRADE Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Halim Mohammad said, “MATRADE is delighted to yet again organise MIHAS, which promises to offer an abundance of trade opportunities and trending market insights related to the global Halal economy.”
He pointed out that this year, the virtual showcase is structured into three major components comprising of virtual exhibitions, eBizMatch, and Knowledge Hub.
eBizMatch, which is a B2B business matching virtual International Sourcing Programme (INSP) has been embedded as a key component of MIHAS 2021 to introduce and connect more Malaysian exporters to new potential markets and international buyers throughout the three-month exhibition period ending in December 2021. It is a testament to the agency’s efforts in integrating digitalisation in trade promotion, thus mitigating the impact of border closures and lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Knowledge Hub, the third component of MIHAS 2021, offers registered trade visitors thought-provoking dialogues on Halal related topics covering Islamic financing, innovation and business sustainability, digital technologies the role of women and perspectives from young entrepreneurs in Halal economy, among others.
The virtual exhibition this year features 549 virtual exhibitors with 52% or 303 comprising international exhibitors from 43 different countries. The top five countries include Indonesia with 45 exhibitors,China with 25 exhibitors, Philippines with 20 exhibitors, South Korea with 18 exhibitors and Thailand drawing 16 exhibitors.
Prominent policy makers, strategic thinkers, academicians as well as industry leaders and influencers will offer their perspectives and thoughts in a total of 13 market access and plenary sessions, which will be live streamed on the MIHAS Virtual platform scheduled over three days, 10 to 12 September. The digital capabilities of MIHAS 2021 enables playbacks for all sessions, accommodating particularly international trade visitors in different time zones.
MIHAS 2021 collaborative partners comprise leading advocates of the Halal economy: Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), Malaysian conglomerate and leading producer of coconut-based products, LINACO, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, and CIMB Islamic Banking Berhad (CIMB).
In a bid to further advance Malaysia’s export development, Tan Sri Dr Halim said that MATRADE will be inking a string of public-private partnerships at the official launch of MIHAS 2021 on 9 September.
Upon opening its virtual doors on 9 September, the MIHAS 2021 trade exhibition will offer the local and international trade community a borderless Halal market, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week for more than three months. For more information or to register as a MIHAS 2021 trade visitor visit www.mihasvirtual.com.my
