Malaysia to make strong pitch for food & tourism business at Caexpo 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to entice visitors to the 8th China-Asean Expo (Caexpo 2011) in Nanning, China, next week into what the country is best known for -- food and tourism.
One-third of the 151 Malaysian exhibitors hosted by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) at the 2,900 square metre Malaysia Pavilion are food and beverage producers.
For its 270 square metre "City of Charm" Pavilion, Malaysia will showcase Johor Baharu this time after Melaka last year and Kuching in 2009.
With Tourism Malaysia Johor Baharu being the lead agency for the City of Charm, the delegation comprises state tourism officers, tour operators, hoteliers, product owners and cultural performance troupes from the Johor Heritage Foundation and Kun Seng Keng Group.
Commenting on the large participation of Malaysian food and beverage companies and the sizeable tourism delegation from Johor at the six-day Caexpo 2011 that kicks off on Oct 21, Matrade chief executive officer Dr Wong Lai Sum said:
"The Chinese are very curious about our food. They are curious about how the Chinese in our country have actually integrated with the other races and you know, we eat the cuisines that we call our own. We also talk about halal food.
"The Chinese have also been here for tourism. They love the islands and the places like Sabah and Sarawak.
"In the name of promoting Malaysia, we also promote all these," she said in an interview.
Caexpo is an annual event held in Nanning since 2004 under the Framework Agreement of China-Asean Comprehensive Economic Cooperation.
It plays an important role in strengthening bilateral trade between Malaysia and China as well as with other Asean countries, and serves as an ideal platform for Malaysia to promote its products and services to the combined Chinese and Asean markets of 1.9 billion populace.
Dr Wong said the Chinese's love and eagerness to try Malaysian food had brought about manifold increase in the country's food exports to China, particularly the sauces.
"We're not expecting them to overnight turn to "rendang" or eat "nasi lemak", for example.
"We're actually providing them with an alternative cuisine and giving them the experiment of our cuisines," she said.
Among Malaysia's best foods to be showcased at Caexpo 2011 are "rendang tok", "serunding daging", "serunding ayam" and "acar buah" by Semarak Mujarab Sdn Bhd.
Other participants include MTC Advance Marketing Sdn Bhd with its Polyfloral Honey and Royal Jelly in Honey; Top Fruits Sdn Bhd with its Frozen MyDurian Pulp, Frozen Nangka Pulp and MyDurian Pastry; and Innoroselle Sdn Bhd with its Roselle Cordial.
The better known brands perhaps are Mister Potato Crisps from Kilang Makanan Mamee Sdn Bhd and Julie's Biscuits from Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd.
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