M'sian Agrifood Corp inks MoU on tomato supply
Published on: Friday, August 21, 2009
DUBAI: Malaysian Agrifood Corporation Bhd (MAFC) is set to supply the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with more than 200 metric tonnes of tomatoes every month.To this end, MAFC has entered into a strategic partnership with Shokri Hassan Trading Company, an importer of fresh produce in this Gulf nation.MAFC"s latest headway in penetrating the international market was sealed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here Thursday witnessed by the Malaysian ambassador to the UAE, Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar.
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"Through Shokri Hassan Trading, we"re delighted with this opportunity to explore and establish our brand presence in the vibrant and lucrative Middle East market," MAFC senior vice-president of marketing Amiruddin Zainal Abidin said at the event.Amiruddin inked the MoU for MAFC while Shokri Hassan Trading was represented by its managing director Shokrollah H. Ali.Amiruddin said the arrangement would bring MAFC's quality and nutritionally-balanced agriculture produce right to the dining tables of consumers, initially in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah."We hope this MoU will become a stepping stone for a stronger relationship leading to other new and exciting undertakings for both parties and, in turn, present a good model of mutual cooperation between Malaysia and the UAE," he said.
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Although the MoU was signed Thursday, the alliance had been put into gear in May with the first shipment of MAFC's "Lushious" brand tomatoes making their maiden appearance at retail chains in Dubai such as Carrefour, Spinneys and Coop, besides other distribution points in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi."We followed through in June with the weekly dispatch of 20 metric tonnes of tomatoes to Dubai and in August, we increased this quantum to 30 tonnes per week or 120 tonnes per month," Amiruddin said.
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"God willing, by October this year we would be able to achieve our target of 200 metric tonnes per month," he said, adding that some RM500,000 worth of tomatoes had been shipped to date.MAFC's partnership with Shokri Hassan Trading stemmed from the former's participation in Gulfood 2009, billed as the Middle East's largest and most important food and food services industry event of the year."It was an opportune event for MAFC to showcase itself as an emerging and competitive integrated agrifood corporation," Amiruddin said.According to Malaysian trade commissioner in the UAE, Dzulkifli Mahmud, the UAE imported tomatoes worth 31.29 million dirhams mainly from India, Holland, South Africa and Middle East countries in 2008.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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