KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) — Malaysian companies achieved RM52.75 million sales at the FOODEX Japan Trade Fair held in Makuhari Messe in Chiba, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said Monday.

Matrade said confectionery products contributed 38.14 per cent of the total sales, followed by beverages products (30.13 per cent) and food ingredients (14.26 per cent).

Malaysia’s national pavilion, comprising 24 Malaysian companies, received 1,790 trade enquiries from importers, distributors and procurement centres from Japan, China and South Korea throughout the four-day fair from March 4, the national trade promotion agency said in a statement.

Matrade Tokyo Trade Commissioner Kua Kiat Chye said Malaysian food and beverages products are widely accepted in Japan due to its assurance on standard and quality.

He said Malaysian companies should also consider opportunities in Japan’s hospitality sector to meet the growing demand of Muslim tourists from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

A total of 2,808 exhibitors from 78 countries participated in the FOODEX Japan 2014 which attracted 75,766 trade visitors.

As such, Matrade planned to continue organising the participation of Malaysian companies in FOODEX Japan 2015, which will be held from March 3 to 6 next year.