Written by Dr. Abdel Rahim Abdel Wahed
DUBAI – KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is set to spearhead a significant delegation of 91 Malaysian companies and 4 government agencies at Gulfood 2025 in Dubai, UAE. This robust participation underscores Malaysia’s strategic focus on expanding its food and beverage (F&B) exports and solidifying its presence in the global halal market.
Gulfood, recognized as the world’s largest annual F&B trade exhibition, provides an unparalleled platform for Malaysian businesses to connect with international buyers, establish strategic partnerships, and showcase their diverse range of high-quality products and services. MATRADE’s leadership ensures a coordinated and impactful presence for Malaysian exhibitors at this prestigious event.
Critical Platform for Malaysian
“Gulfood represents a critical platform for Malaysian F&B businesses to expand their reach and contribute to our national export targets. It’s not just about showcasing products; it’s about forging strategic partnerships, building brand recognition, and gaining valuable market intelligence. We are confident that our participation in Gulfood 2025 will significantly boost Malaysia’s F&B presence on the global stage and drive growth in this vital sector,” said YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE. “We are confident that Malaysian companies will make a strong impression at Gulfood 2025.”
“Our overarching goal of participating in Gulfood 2025 is to empower Malaysian food and beverage companies to tap into new international markets and present their innovative solutions to a global audience. Given the increasing demand for Malaysian products overseas, MATRADE is providing extensive support through business matching programs and market intelligence briefings, ensuring that our companies can make the most of their presence and achieve their export ambitions,” added Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, CEO of MATRADE.
Present a wide spectrum
Malaysian exhibitors will present a wide spectrum of F&B products, including sauces & pastes, spices & condiments, frozen food, ready-to-eat meals, snacks, beverages, dairy products, Halal-certified products and organic products. This diverse offering reflects the dynamism and quality of the Malaysian F&B sector and caters to a broad international audience.
MATRADE’s support extends beyond facilitating participation at the Malaysia Pavilion. Through its Dubai office, MATRADE will actively connect Malaysian companies with key importers and distributors in the Middle East region, maximizing business opportunities and fostering valuable relationships.
4 government agencies
The participation of 4 government agencies further underscores Malaysia’s commitment to supporting its F&B industry. These agencies will provide valuable resources and expertise to Malaysian exporters, facilitating their access to international markets and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Malaysia’s processed food exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region continued their upward trajectory in 2024, reflecting strong demand for high-quality and halal-certified food products. Total exports for the sector reached RM2.32 billion, marking a 3.8% increase from RM2.23 billion in 2023. This steady growth underscores Malaysia’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the global halal food market.
UAE leading destination
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained the leading destination for Malaysia’s processed food in the region, accounting for 33.3% of total MENA exports. Exports to the UAE surged 37.3%, rising from RM563.3 million in 2023 to RM773.2 million in 2024. This significant increase highlights the UAE’s role as a strategic hub for Malaysian food products, facilitating wider market access across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and beyond.
This upward trend underscores the increasing global demand for Malaysian processed food products and highlights the country’s strengthening position in the international F&B market.
MATRADE remains committed to supporting Malaysian businesses in capitalizing on this momentum, ensuring that the nation’s F&B exports continue to thrive on the global stage.
MATRADE is The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on March 1, 1993. It is Malaysia’s national trade promotion organisation and the external trade promotion arm of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
MATRADE Purpose to:
● Facilitate access to foreign markets
● Digitise exports through etrade initiatives
● Provide market intelligence for exporters to stay ahead of competition
● Support national export plans
● Build export readiness
● Build linkages to connect local exporters to foreign buyers and markets
● Provide specialised support to advance exports
● Strengthen Brand Malaysia
