Best of Malaysia to be exhibited in Bahrain

Organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in collaboration with Malaysia Trade Centre Dubai, the three-day exhibition is open to the public. Caravan Malaysia 2003 is in line with the initiatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Malaysia to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations.

Bahrain, under the direction of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, has been sending out strong signals welcoming Malaysian investment in the Kingdom. By the same token, the Malaysian Government has been giving indications of its keenness to bolster its ties with Bahrain.

In May 2001, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz addressed a seminar on Malaysia-Bahrain business opportunities in the Bahrain capital of Manama. This was followed by the Bahrain visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad who led a large delegation aimed strengthening bilateral and economic ties with the Kingdom in April 2002.

'Under the guidance of H.E. Mr Saleh Ali Al Saleh, the Minister of Commerce, follow-up efforts were made with MATRADE, indicating the determination of the Bahrain Government to reinforce the relations between the two brotherly countries,' says by Kadem Esa Al Saeed, Acting General Manager of Bahrain Convention and Exhibition Bureau (BCEB).

'These culminated in our successful trade mission to Malaysia in June 2002 where we held a series of meetings with MATRADE, the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and local businessmen.'

Statistics released by the Directorate of Foreign Trade Relations of the Bahrain Ministry of Commerce indicate that from January to June 2003, the value of Bahrain's total exports to Malaysia stood at approximately BD 12.5 million (US$ 33.22 million), representing a 108 per cent increase over the 2002 figure of approximately BD 6 million (US$ 15.95 million).

Aluminium, iron, plastic and animal oil are the main commodities exported by Bahrain to Malaysia. Malaysian exports to the Kingdom include clothing, wood, cooking oil, fresh produce, computers, electronic items, furniture, air-conditioning units and ceramics.

Mr Noharuddin Nordin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, signed the Licence Agreement for Caravan Malaysia 2003 on behalf of the Malaysian Government while Mr Al Saeed signed on behalf of BCEB. The contract signing recently took place at the Malaysia Trade Office in Dubai.

Also present at the event was Mr. Mohammed Mustafa Abdul Aziz, Consul General and Trade Commissioner for the Consulate General of Malaysia in Dubai.

Caravan Malaysia 2003 in Manama, Bahrain is the first of two exhibitions being organized by MATRADE in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) aimed at exploring and identifying new trade opportunities in the region. After its maiden show in Bahrain, Caravan Malaysia 2003 opens in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 7 - 11 December 2003.

Covering an area of more than 4,000 square meters, a wide range of products and services from various sectors of Malaysia will be displayed at BIEC. The subject profile includes but is not limited to the following sectors : electrical and electronics, automotive and transportation, rubber, food and agriculture, furniture, building and construction, handicraft, plastics, education, healthcare and hospital services, telecommunications and wood.

'Every single item in Caravan Malaysia, including the flooring and fittings, are all coming from Malaysia. The highlight of the exhibition is lifestyle section where exhibits have been designed to emphasize quality, style, innovation, technology and functionality of a wide range of products and services in the environment they are usually used or found,' says Mr Noharuddin Nordin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE.'These can be a living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, children's bedroom, bathroom, the garden, office, meeting room or any other environment. Everyone is invited to discover the quality that makes Malaysian products and services among the best in the world.'

The trade event will also feature the latest digital entertainment technology and smart home gadgets, including cars and buses manufactured in Malaysia.

According to Mr Nordin, a special section is dedicated to leading Malaysian brand names which will be highlighted in multimedia format. 'The exhibits will reveal the impressions and endearing characteristics that have helped create some of Malaysia's most valuable brands.'

Visitors will be treated to cultural performances, handicraft demonstrations and other lively presentations. The exhibition will be open to traders and the public. Admission is free.