Malaysian F&B Products Gaining Popularity In Thailand

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, June 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysian food and beverage (F&B) products have gained popularity in Thailand, accounting for 28.2 per cent of the nation’s total exports to the country, said Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation's (MATRADE) Trade Commissioner in Thailand, Norman Dzulkarnain Nasri. “Processed food was Malaysia’s fourth-biggest export to Thailand last year, and the country has huge business potential that could be explored by Malaysian F&B companies,” he told Bernama here Wednesday. He said this week, 63 Malaysian F&B companies were participating in the THAIFEX World of Food Asia 2017, Southeast Asia’s largest F&B exhibition, starting from Wednesday and ending on June 3. As one of the world’s largest F&B exhibitions, THAIFEX will benefit the Malaysian participants as it will help to expose them to the business opportunities available in the F&B sector worldwide. “Moreover, the halal certification by Malaysian authorities proves to be advantageous for the F&B products, as they would be able to penetrate the global market with the certification,” he said. Norman said this year, THAIFEX organisers had invited 72 buyer companies from all over the world to meet with participating Malaysian companies, giving them the chance to market their products to international customers. He added that MATRADE would continue to assist Malaysian companies to expand their operations in Thailand through efforts which included business-matching sessions with their Thai counterparts. Thailand was Malaysia’s fifth biggest trade partner last year, with exports amounting to US$10.29 million (RM44.1 billion), comprising crude petroleum (66.7 per cent), transport equipment (47.2 per cent), steel products (36.8 per cent), processed food (28.2 per cent), and chemicals and chemical products (22.9 per cent). During the first quarter of this year, the nation’s exports to Thailand increased 15.1 per cent to RM12.6 billion compared to the same period last year. -- BERNAMA