By NNN-Bernama
Dubai : When Kami Food Services Sdn Bhd took part in the Dubai Seafood Expo last month, its manager Daniel Yong also decided to become a “cook” to showcase its frozen seafood products.
He was seen happily cooking away and distributing the tasty food.
Speaking to Bernama, Yong said although surimi/seafood-based products were not well known among people in the Middle East, he was optimistic that it will gain popularity.
This was because many among them have travelled widely and were now aware of the products, he said.
“Things will pick up, they are travelling more now and aware of frozen seafood, including surimi-based seafood,” he added.
The company manufactures halal and high quality surimi/seafood-based products such as filament crabstick, crab finger, frankfurters and cocktail.
Yong said the Middle East, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is also home to a huge number of foreigners, including those from the Philippines who are already familiar with surimi-based seafood.
“I am bullish that within two to three years the market for this product will be up and running,” he said.
Yong said that the company had already penetrated markets in Australia, Europe and the United States.
For the Dubai market, it is looking at a turnover of between RM600,000 and RM1.5 million, according to him.
As for Asas Matahari Sdn Bhd which is already exporting its products like chicken floss (serunding) to Indonesia and Cambodia, Saudi Arabia is its next target market.
“We are aiming those performing the Haj and Umrah,” said its managing director Ismail@Ibrahim Mustaffa.
He said the company, which was set up in 1997, took part in the seafood expo as Dubai is the gateway to other Middle East markets.
Ismail said that so far response from the Indonesian and Cambodian markets has been good with demand increasing.
Some four tonnes of chicken floss are exported to Indonesia monthly, he said.
Apart from chicken floss, Matahari’s other products are tuna and prawn floss.