Malaysian Firms Missing "Big Opportunities" By Avoiding International Trade Fairs

By Manik Mehta FRANKFURT, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Frankfurt-based Matrade senior trade commissioner Sabri Abdul Rahman is disappointed that Malaysian companies are missing out on the “big opportunities” by not showcasing their products at international trade fairs that provide an excellent window to the world market. He cited the just-concluded HeimTextil Fair of Frankfurt, the world’s biggest trade fair for the home-textile industry, where Malaysians had lost “big opportunities”. “It is here (in Frankfurt) that buyers from around the world, and not just from Germany, descend on the HeimTextil fair to buy from the entire world. "Asian companies make a beeline here to vie for international buyers,” he told Bernama while taking stock of the just-ended Heimtextil Fair, which saw large contingents of exhibitors from Asian countries. Sabri was particularly concerned by the fact that Malaysians were not strengthening their marketing efforts by participating in specialised trade fairs following strong exports growth registered by Malaysia’s textile and clothing industry. Malaysia’s global textile and clothing exports totalled RM9.872 billion between January and November last year, up 4.3 per cent, over RM8.455 billion in 2010. (US$1=RM3.12) Textile and clothing exports to Germany surged to RM404 million last year, up 43.1 per cent as compared to RM282 million in 2010. "Such growth can be sustained only by flanking marketing efforts, including participating in trade fairs and exhibitions, which are excellent marketing tools,” Sabri said. Malaysia’s absence at the Heimtextil Fair was conspicuous as exhibitors from a number of Asean member countries made a strong pitch for their products at the fair. -- BERNAMA