Local Entrepreneurs To Tap Saudi Market

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Thirty local entrepreneurs in the food and services industry are keen to tap the West Asian market through their participation in Saudi Food, Hotel and Hospitality 2016 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The four-day exhibition, to be held from May 9-12, will see the participation of over 20 countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Italy and Turkey. President of the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kuala Lumpur, Sharifuddin Musa, said four booths would be rented at US$5,116 (RM20,000) each to display local products. (US$1=RM3.90) "The products, such as energy drinks and halal food services which are brought to West Asia, have international recognition," he told reporters after the chamber's 40th annual general meeting here Saturday. During their stay, the entrepreneurs will visit several trading companies to see whether there were potentials for their products to be marketed at renowned supermarkets in Saudi Arabia. "We have been cooperating with Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) in Jeddah to arrange for the meetings with supermarket owners there to market our products in supermarkets such as Bin Dawood, Panda and Al-Raya," he said. He also cited the success of local company, Delima Emas Sdn Bhd, which will be penetrating the Saudi market by supplying 300,000 frozen chicken meat to Siman United Ltd after participating in Jeddah International Trade Fair in December last year. One memorandum of understanding will be inked on May 14 in Jeddah which will see four supermarkets in Saudi Arabia marketing frozen chicken meat from Malaysia for the first time. Meanwhile, Matrade Chief Executive Officer, Dzulkifli Mahmud, said the products to be displayed at the exhibition would meet the standards to access the Saudi market. "We also believe that by participating in this international exhibition, the entrepreneurs would be able to clearly see the market conditions and the needs of consumers of Saudi Arabia and other participating countries in terms of packaging and as such. "This exhibition in Saudi Arabia will attract people from various countries and this is the best time for the entrepreneurs to establish a relationship with other producers and gather inputs on producing goods to their likings," he added. -- BERNAMA