KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) 2019 is garnering increasing global attention for being the biggest furniture hub in Southeast Asia.
American furniture importer James Holt, who has been attending the MIFF for three successive editions, said the number of exhibitors grew tremendously and there was a wide range of products to choose from.
“The designs stay fresh and up to date. So far, we have struck several deals, and we are looking forward to more of them,” he told Bernama at the MIFF 2019 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here today.
The four-day MIFF, which ends on March 11, is organised by UBM Malaysia. Spanning across 100,000 square metres, it is held at two venues – the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre and PWTC.
Asked whether the US-China trade war affects the furniture business in the region, Holt said the impact was minimal as could be seen from the transactions concluded in Malaysia.
“This is a great hub for us to buy (furniture) products, especially if importers like us who would want to purchase Chinese products,” he said.
Meanwhile, Spanish businessman Alejandro Montoya described local wood products and designs as the MIFF 2019 key strengths that captured the attention of many foreign buyers.
“Many of our customers back in Spain like minimalistic (simple shapes or forms) wooden products, and I see there are various choices here at MIFF. Malaysian wood is known for its quality and that is what we are here for,” he said.
The Malaysian furniture industry, in 2018, generated RM9.83 billion from the export market, with wooden furniture contributing RM7.79 billion.
The MIFF 2019 boasts the presence of 600 exhibitors from 14 countries, including China, Indonesia, South Korea, the United States, Turkey, Portugal, New Zealand, and Romania. – Bernama
