MKP Aims At Boosting Patronage Of Malaysian Restaurants

By Neville DCruz MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Bernama) –- The Malaysia Kitchen Programme (MKP) aims at increasing patronage of Malaysian restaurants operating overseas as well as increasing exports of processed food, food ingredients and agriculture produce and to attract tourists to Malaysia. Malaysian Trade Commissioner here, Noor Hayati, said Australia's culinary heritage and practices were rich and tantalising in their own right. "However, we believe that Malaysian cuisines can enrich one's dining experience and that there is always room for Malaysian food, in every Australian home," she said. Noor Hayati said this at the MKP appreciation dinner at the YTL-owned Marriott Hotel here Monday night. About 60 food importers, Malaysian restaurateurs and the media attended the dinner. She said the event was to thank food industry leaders "who have supported us in our effort towards promoting Malaysian cuisine and food products" in Australia. She said Matrade had organised the Taste of Malaysia event here as well as Christmas A' La Malaysia food promotions in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. "We had also, in collaboration with a major food importer in Australia, organised in-store promotions in several independent grocery stores in Victoria state," she said. She said Matrade, through MKP, would continue to introduce new food products into the Australian market and seek new marketplace. "We will be partnering with restaurants, institutional caterers and hotel chains to give Australians more opportunity to experience healthy and tasty Malaysian cuisine," she said. Malaysian Consul-General, Dr Mohd Rameez Yahaya, said Australia had a total of 224 Malaysian restaurants, one of the largest numbers overseas. "I am proud to see long queues outside Malaysian restaurants here," he said. Mohd Rameez said Australians were finding Asian food exciting and healthier. He said Malaysia's food product exports to Australia rose from US$140 million in 2009 to almost US$300 in 2013. -- BERNAMA