MATRADE Jeddah, the commercial section of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah, recently organized the participation of 33 Malaysian exhibitors in the Saudi Food Show 2024, an international exhibition dedicated to the food and beverage industry held last month in Riyadh.
Regarded as the largest F&B sourcing event in the region, the Saudi Food Show featured more than 1,000 exhibitors from 97 countries. Among them were Malaysian exhibitors, including mid-tier companies and small-medium enterprises, promoting a diverse range of products such as ready-to-eat meals, plant-based food, health beverages, premium confectioneries, food ingredients, and flavorings. The Malaysian pavilions, represented by Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Halal Development Corporation, and the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, played a significant role in showcasing the country’s capabilities and offerings.
During the event, the Saudi Food Excellence Awards 2024 was held to recognize outstanding and innovative brands in the industry, in which a Malaysian company, Global Brand Synergy Sdn Bhd, was honored with the Best Packaging Design and Best Beverage awards.
According to a statement by MATRADE Jeddah, the Kingdom is seen as a key and dynamic market for diversification and growth in the food industry, offering Malaysian exporters renewed opportunities and platforms to expand their reach in a market valued at $45 billion, the largest in the Middle East.
Ambassador of Malaysia to Saudi Arabia Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah toured the exhibition grounds and highlighted that the participation of Malaysian companies will empower exporters and promote economic growth between both countries.
“The Saudi market holds significant potential, as several Malaysian companies have already established a strong presence here and achieved remarkable success with their Saudi partners. We look forward to showcasing Malaysia’s capabilities as a prominent supplier to contribute to the Kingdom’s remarkable expansion in the food manufacturing and food service industry as well,” he said.
In 2023, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia reached a value of $11.06 billion. The Kingdom received goods worth $1.49 billion from Malaysia, while Saudi Arabia valued its exports to Malaysia at $9.56 billion. This thriving trade relationship positions Saudi Arabia as Malaysia’s largest trading partner and the primary source of imports among West Asian countries.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consulate’s commercial section is inviting Saudi companies to participate in the upcoming 20th Malaysia International Halal Showcase, to be held from Sept. 17-20 in Kuala Lumpur, to explore market expansion opportunities in key segments.
