A total of 15 companies from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan participated in the physical International Sourcing Programme (INSP) in conjunction with the world’s largest Halal trade exhibition – Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), and successfully source RM3.82 million worth of Halal products and services.
For many of these companies, INSP MIHAS was their first step into this rapidly growing industry. According to Ms. Zamira Kaimova, Manager of AAS Food, one of the leading F&B distributors in Kazakhstan, stated that the event has successfully provided an array of opportunities for the company to expand its Halal products for clients.
“It was my first time participating in INSP MIHAS, and I was pleasantly surprised with the high-quality Halal products offered by Malaysian companies. I am now communicating with few Malaysian companies in sourcing their products into Kazakhstan. Thanks to MATRADE Almaty for inviting us to participate in this event,” said Zamira.
The event also saw the participation of Gold Frake, a prominent distributor of poultry products in Kazakhstan. Ms. Fariza Ranova, Manager of Gold Frake LLP, shared her perspective, “With the growing demand of Halal products not only in Central Asia but also around the world, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to participate in INSP MIHAS which is known as the best platform for sourcing quality Halal products and services. I was impressed by the organisation of the B2B meetings and had the chance to connect with reliable and quality Malaysian Halal suppliers,” she added.
This year, over 500 foreign buyers from 48 countries participated in INSP MIHAS 2023, spanning various sectors such as agricultural produce, food & beverages, ingredients, cosmetics & personal care, pharmaceuticals & medicals, modest fashion & lifestyle, Islamic arts & crafts, Islamic finance & fintech, banking & takaful, logistics, franchising, food technology & packaging, education and eCommerce.
Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, the CEO of MATRADE said, “Indeed, MIHAS 2023 represented a milestone in our commitment to fostering global trade. Through MIHAS, we are not only strengthening the global Halal business supply chain but also creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to expand their horizons in the international market. This reflects our dedication to improving Malaysia’s trade competitiveness, guided by the National Trade Blueprint (NTBp)”.
According to Suresh Kumar, the Trade Commissioner of MATRADE Almaty, “Given the region’s proximity to other Muslim-majority nations, Central Asia provides a booming opportunity for the growth of Halal industry. This makes the region a potentially lucrative market for Halal products and services”.
Taking the advantage of the growing Halal demand in Central Asia, MATRADE Almaty has reached out to major local companies in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to facilitate their Halal sourcing from Malaysia.
“This year marks a historical milestone, with 15 companies from Central Asia participating in the physical INSP of MIHAS – the largest ever number of companies’ participation from the region in this event,” stated Suresh. Among the products and services that these companies were exploring are palm oil, food ingredients, confectioneries, packaging machinery & equipment, health foods & supplements, Sharia advisory, and education services.
