MIFF 2000 Continues To Reap Good Results For Our Furniture Industry

Furniture World Magazine

The official and audited results of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair 2000 (MIFF2000) were released by its Organizer. The event was held from 7 - 11 March 2000 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur. Its Organizing Chairman, Tan Chin Huat said " We am pleased to release the results of MIFF 2000 today. Thee results that were compiled show a positive trend and it surely augurs well for our industry. This year's event recorded the participation of 290 exhibitors compared with only 256 exhibitors last year. Also participating at MIFF 2000 were exhibitors from other ASEAN countries. In total, the exhibition occupied an area of 35,000 m2 at the PWTC. Since the beginning of the OFF series, we held our exhibition at the PWTC and now, this venue has become synonymous with the MIFF in the international arena. " Tan added. Other audited results of the exhibition also reveal a healthy tend. Total visitorship recorded was 17,566 visitors (excluding invited guests). In particular, about one-third of the total visitorship were international buyers which had increased by 13.6 % from 4,986 international visitors in 1999 to 5,663 international visitors at MIFF 2000. These furniture buyers came from 113 countries this year compared to just 101 counties last year, another increase of 11 .9 %. The increase of international visitorship at MIFF 2000 shows that the exhibition has attained the necessary global awareness. Its inclusion into the international furniture calendar of events has boosted its international Image and now, it is recognized worldwide as the premier furniture buying stop in Asia, We have scheduled out exhibition to run from the first Tuesday to Saturday of March every year. The international community has now locked in these days to attend the MIFF. Other furniture shows in the region am now scheduling their show dates to coincide with our exhibition." Tan said. Furniture export sales generated by exhibitors in the 5-day show period of MIFF had consistently accounted for more than one-third of Malaysia's national annual furniture exports. At MIFF 2000, total sales reported stood at USD 481.6 Million compared with USD 415 Million in 1999. The exhibition, as Malaysia's official furniture export show, is fully endorsed by the Malaysian Government through the Ministry of Primary Industries, Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), MATRADE, Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia). The series is also fully supported by the Malaysian Furniture Industry Council (MFIC), as the national trade body representing the furniture industry of Malaysia. MIFF 2001, seventh in its annual series will be held on 6 - 10 March 2001 at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur,