Page 24 - HGR March + April 2019
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22 NEWSLINE
3PAGE 20 until 11 March it attracted over 600 exhibitors
from 14 different countries and regions with a
incentives for the rental of their stands much expanded list of registered international
and for the expenses of presentation. buyers and visitors. And these included a
goodly number from Africa, North America
“This made an immediate difference and Eastern Europe.
as these were privileges hitherto
reserved for Malaysian exhibitors Signature attractions included a huge Office
participating in overseas shows.” And Furniture section, a Design and Lifestyle floor,
then Fate smiled kindly once again when an International Hall, a Sofa Hall, a Timber
the ASEAN Free Trade Area discounted Mart and of course several well attended
furniture import duties of up to 50% seminars on trands, designs , materials
for members. This meant that ASEAN offered by top local and international experts.
countries importing furniture from each
other would pay a maximum of 25% This year exhibitors were drawn from
import duties. Malaysia, South Korea, China, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Japan, USA, Turkey, Sri Lanka,
“That alone,” said Dato Tan, “ meant Portugal, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam and
that we attracted more ASEAN buyers to Romania.
MIFF. That got the ball truly rolling and
MIFF continued its exponential growth Organisers UBM Malaysia stated that pre-
year by year. IN 2002 Chinese companies registered international buyers increased by
participated and since then we’ve had over 10% from 2018. The 600 exhibitors were
the world here. Japan, Taiwan, Australia, spread over100 000 m2 at the new MITEC
the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, South centre and the Putra World Trade Centre
America ,Philippines, Indonesia, India, (PWTC). Declared founder and chairman
Russia, South Africa and several others of MIFF Dato Tan. “ We are determined to
increase our engagement with exhibitors and
For several recent years past, MIFF other partners to ensure MIFF sustains its
has had to accommodate a number position as a unique trade show.. We must
of late entry exhibitors outside the work together, closer than ever because our
halls of PWTC, initially at the Kuala future success depends on how well we can
Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) create new opportunities, new customers and
and then latterly at MATRADE. It new ways to bring innovative products to the
wasn’t a satisfactory arrangement but market.”
nevertheless it was a demonstration of
the pulling power of MIFF. Nevertheless In our opinion MIFF 2019 was the best ever
urged on by various sectors within in terms of not just the numbers of exhibitors
the Malaysia business world, the and visitors, but the sheer diversity of
Government constructed the state- products on display, the attractions of MITEC
of-the-art Malaysian International as a venue, the celebrated efficiencies of the
Trade & Exhibition Centre ((MITEC). This organisers, the entertainment and hospitality.
venue proved to be a godsend for MIFF But all the above would be worthless if
organisers and in 2018 many exhibitors business did not take centre stage. In 2018
chose to book space there. sales amounted to just under a billion
dollars, i.e. US$984 million. When the final
.Which brings us up to 2019 and sales figures are released there is no doubt
MIFF’s 25th Anniversary to which whatsoever that well over a billion dollars will
inevitably HGR was invited as it has been have been chalked up.
for the past 12 years. One can simply
state MIFF reaffirmed its position as It’s been a 25 year long journey for MIFF
the dominant sourcing hub for furniture but it continues year after year to grow and
in South East Asia. Held from 8 March to exceed all expectations of buyers and
exhibitors. If you’ve never visited diarise MIFF
2020. You will not be disappointed.
HOME GOODS RETAILER | MARCH / APRIL 2019
