MIFF 2011 Concludes With Over US$800 Million Sales

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian InternationalFurniture Fair 2011 has concluded after hosting more than 6,000 overseas buyersfrom over 140 countries, with an estimated potential sales of over US$800million negotiated during the five-day show.

Some 500 exhibitors showcased their furniture coveringall the sections of the value-chain at the fair held at the Kuala LumpurConvention Centre and Putra World Trade Centre, said MIFF Sdn Bhd, organiser ofthe leading furniture trade show in Asia.

"We are pleased with the response received at MIFF 2011. On the fourth dayitself, we have surpassed 6,000 overseas buyers," said MIFF ManagingDirector Datuk Tan Chin Huat.

The visitors were from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Indonesia, The Netherlands, Myanmar, the United States, Australia, Middle Eastand African countries.

"More importantly, we also saw some new buyers, for the first time theycame here from far way countries, like those from Suriname and SeychellesIsland," he told Bernama in an interview.

Tan said he was confident of beating US$800 million sales target set for thisyear's show, with Malaysian wooden furniture being the main attraction at thefair.

He said residential and office property markets were fast improving after the2009 recession and this has led to increased demand for new office furnitureand exponential growth in the home living business.

"This fair was all-the-more important for all the exhibitors and buyers asit was held at a time when global economies have started picking paceagain," he said.

Agreeing with this, the exhibitors said the fair was a success story as itserved as a viable platform for furniture makers from around the world to meet.

Safari Office System Sdn Bhd Director David Kiew said there was more crowd thisyear especially exhibitors from Australia and Middle East.

"Enquiries for our office furniture at MIFF have been increasingyear-by-year. This year alone, we saw 10 to 15 per cent jump in sales fromUS$1.5 million last year," he said.

Jemaramas Jaya Sdn Bhd Executive Director Choo Swee Lee said this year's fairbrought in many quality buyers to the company's booth and she believed theywould be able to conclude sales from negotiations made at the fair.

To woo more participants, Choo said MIFF, as the organiser, could provide ascheme to encourage new players to exhibit their products here in a bid toprovide more excitement to the fair.

"Exhibitors should also come out with new ideas and designs to attractmore visitors to come to the fair," she said.

Meanwhile, Kin Heng Furniture Sdn Bhd Marketing Manager Desmond E.H. Lee saiddespite the civil unrest in the Middle East, there were still buyers from theregion from countries like Libya and Bahrain.

"Year-to-year, we receive consistent enquiries from buyers in the MiddleEast, currently our big market. We also saw new customers coming from Africancountries," he added.

Ki Bong Moon, Manager of Trade and Investment from Asean-Korea Centre, who leda 21-member delegation from 13 furniture companies to MIFF, said the missionwas to identify quality Malaysia furniture items that are marketable in SouthKorea and to create business opportunities.

"Before this, most of our furniture were imported from China, but now weare looking at new markets like Malaysia as China's labour cost is increasingand new regulations are coming into place," he said.

With the Asean-South Korea Free Trade Agreement in place, he said, Malaysiastood a good chance in securing a huge trade market share in South Korea asAsean emerged as a new competitive sourcing market for Korean businesses.

Meanwhile, Jeong Seong-Hwan from the Korea Federation of Furniture IndustryCooperative, said the federation was considering joining MIFF 2012, a gatewayfor Korean furniture makers to expand their international market especially toregional markets.

Jeong said US$8 million worth of deals negotiated during the fair are expectedto be concluded in the next six months.

Taking the cue from the strong turnout this year, MIFF 2012 looks forward tooffer better quality furniture to rekindle interest and excitement amongexhibitors and buyers alike.

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