Tens of thousands of prospective traders will gather in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April next year, in what has been described as the world’s biggest international ‘Halal Market Place’. The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) is an annual trade fair that aims to promote halal foods and beverages, and providing a platform for businesses to enter the lucrative halal foods market.

In 2013, the event attracted roughly 463 exhibitors from over 30 countries globally, as well as more than 18 000 visitors and trade buyers from 65 different countries. MIHAS has seen particularly fervent support from countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with 69% of buyers hailing from the region.

MIHAS Founder and CEO, Mohd Shukri Abdullah, is currently in the country to promote the event, and to introduce South African halal products into the global halal market.

Speaking to VOC’s Drivetime, he hailed the success of the ever expanding MIHAS event, noting that the 2015 edition was already expected to draw up to 700 exhibitors. In the coming years, they were hoping to expand the size of halls where the fair took place, currently extending 1.5km long, as well as increase the number of participating countries.

Abdullah described the fair is something unique for the global Muslim community, with only a few events of a similar nature taking place worldwide. For those entrepreneurs who attended, it would serve as a great opportunity to enter a growing halal market.

“The Muslim market is so big. A lot of South African organizations are trying to enter the Muslim market in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and around the world,” he explained.

He said the event could serve as a life changer for many Halaal entrepreneurs, particularly if any buyers at the event chose to link up with them on a long term basis.

MIHAS 2015 is scheduled to take place from the 1st until the 4th April 2015.

Abdullah will be hosting a breakfast meeting with business owners at Islamia College on Saturday morning from 8:30am onwards. Anyone seeking to attend the meeting, or the MIHAS trade fair next year, may contact Nasreen Salie at 076 454 3486.

For more information you can visit http://www.halal.com.my/, orhttp://www.mihas.com.my. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)