KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysian food companies secured RM20.8 million in sales at last month's Salon International de l'Alimentation Paris 2010 trade fair.

A further RM40.3 million potential sales was identified, said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) in a statement today.

Matrade led the participation of 30 Malaysian companies at the event held in Paris from Oct 17 to 21.

"Despite the ongoing transport union strikes that occurred every day all over the country, which disrupted public transport severely in Paris and affected the number of visitors to the fair, Malaysian exhibitors still managed to record highly encouraging numbers in term of trade inquiries and concluded sales," Matrade Chief Executive Officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin said.

"The most sought after Malaysian products were palm oil products, coconut products, cooked vegetarian food, cookies, biscuits and oat-based products," he added.

At the trade fair, Malaysian companies promoted products ranging from palm oil products, pepper products, snack foods, frozen foods, seafood, ready-to-eat meals, beverages, fruit juices, sauces, confectionary products, cookies and biscuits.

"In order to attract visitors to the Malaysian pavilion, Matrade organised cooking demonstration and food tastings of Malaysian cuisine twice a day using ingredients and products from our exhibitors.

"It was a definite crowd puller and attracted a lot of trade visitors and media attention," Noharuddin said.

For the Jan-Sept period, Malaysia exported RM84.4 million worth of food products to France.

- BERNAMA