“Saudi Arabia is a huge market for halal products, and this is a good opportunity for local businessmen to see first-hand various products that they could import from Malaysia for local customers in the Kingdom,” Malaysian Ambassador Syed Omar Al-Saggaf said.

Al-Saggaf said Saudi participants and visitors would have one-and-one business meetings on April 3 at the Malaysia Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), an export agency of the Malaysian government.

“A special session to meet MIHAS 2012 exhibitors will be held on April 4. MIHAS 2012 is an effective venue to source Malaysia’s wide range of high quality halal products and services,” the envoy said.

He said that for this year, the targeted sectors include food and beverages, meat and poultry, seafood, organic products, raw food materials, food chemicals, emulsifiers and ingredients, additives, canned goods, processed and ready-to-eat products, etc.

Al-Saggaf expressed hope that the bilateral trade volume will increase further with the participation and attendance of Saudis in the exhibition.

He noted that last year the two-way trade increased by 33 percent to SR15 billion from SR11 billion in 2010.

Al-Saggaf said MATRADE in Jeddah would assist the companies in meeting with Malaysian companies, which they may have already identified.

“Buyers are encouraged to follow up their meetings with Malaysian companies by conducting factory visits after the business meeting session,” Al-Saggaf added.