Agricultural Marketing Mission To Dubai Nets US$18.23 Million In Potential Sales

From Nasriah Darus DUBAI (United Arab Emirates), Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The five-day Agricultural Marketing and Investment Mission (AMIM) to Dubai which ended Thursday, succeeded in recording potential sales of about US$18.23 million (RM60 million), surpassing the preliminary target of US$13.67 million (RM45 million). Agriculture and Agro-Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who led the mission, staged for the second time to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said the figure was based on the eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed. Apart from the MoUs between Malaysian entrepreneurs and distributors in the UAE, there was also a sales promotion undertaken in conjunction with Lulu Hypermarket, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the Middle East. According to Ismail, a UAE-based company, IFFCO had also expressed its intention to invest in Malaysia in the cattle husbandry sector. "There will be follow-up discussions with IFFCO in the near future," he told reporters accompanying him on his working visit to Dubai. IFFCO, produces and markets various consumer products in different segments, including agriculture, while importing two million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia annually. Ismail Sabri launched a Malaysian products expo involving 18 entrepreneurs in 200 product categories at the Lulu Hypermarket on Wednesday. He said the event which is on until Nov 2, will help create awareness towards Malaysian products. Lulu Hypermarket has marketed 600 Malaysian brands and products under its brand and non-branded items as fish and vegetables. "The Expo is to help increase the number of Malaysian products at the Lulu Hypermarket which has branches throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Ismail Sabri said. The Lulu International Group with 20 Lulu supermarkets in the UAE, plans to open 10 supermarkets in Malaysia, with the first scheduled for 2016. On the Agro Bazaar, the sales centre for Malaysian agriculture products to be opened in Dubai next year, Ismail Sabri said a suitable site was being identified and discussions had been held with a local company on the possibility of a joint venture. During the AMIM, roundtable discussions involving 25 companies from Dubai and other countries were held on the opportunities, demand, export conditions and the marketing of Malaysian agriculture and agro-based products. AMIM last year recorded sales of US$6.07 million (RM20 million) through MoUs, while US$12.15 million (RM40 million) was from follow-up sales. Malaysian food products have big potential in the UAE due to the country's dependence on this segment and alongside halal products. A Malaysian Food-Agro Festival which promoted food and fruits from Malaysia, including durians and nasi lemak, was held at the Arena, Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who were in Dubai for the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), were present on the occasion with Malaysian workers here. Ismail Sabri and other ministers attending the WIEF also graced the event. (US$1 = RM3.28) --BERNAMA