Three-year promotional campaign ends in seminar

17 January 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sustainable European Dairy from Ireland trade seminar was held at Le Méridien Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, recently, marking the conclusion of a successful three-year campaign aimed at promoting European dairy products from Ireland in the region.

The seminar highlighted the expanding opportunities for European dairy in Malaysia and brought together prominent Malaysian chefs and F&B professionals to explore market potential and experience the quality of these products through a professional cooking demonstration.

Emma McLoughlin, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Ireland to Malaysia, welcomed the attendees and underscored the significance of the campaign in strengthening ties between the Irish and Malaysian dairy industries. She expressed enthusiasm about the future of these relationships and the potential for collaborative growth.

Robert Murphy from Bord Bia Dublin presented the opportunities that sustainable European dairy from Ireland offers to the Malaysian F&B sector. He highlighted that Ireland, in partnership with its European counterparts, boasts a diverse portfolio of sustainable milk products. Last year, exports of European dairy from Ireland to Malaysia were valued at €50 million (RM235 million approx), with milk powders comprising more than half of this total.

Guest speakers included Mr. Tim Hill from Global Data and Mr. YiFan Li from StoneX, who shared insights into evolving trends in the Asian dairy industry. Tim Hill provided an analysis of consumer behaviors and opportunities for growth within the Malaysian dairy sector.

Meanwhile, YiFan Li offered an overview of current market activities and a forecast for 2025, giving attendees a comprehensive perspective on the Southeast Asian dairy market's outlook for the future.

Concluding the seminar, Chef Budiman Bistari, Executive Sous Chef of Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur demonstrated the qualities and taste of sustainable European dairy ingredients from Ireland and how best they can be utilised in contemporary and traditional Malay recipes.

"European Dairy from Ireland offers a richness and quality that is synonymous with grass fed production methods. The adaptability and availability of the product can be incorporated into a wide range of Asian cooking styles, and offers a path for creativity in utilising dairy beyond classic European dining and baking. The sustainability aspect which is becoming increasingly important increases its appeal to customers."

The trade seminar ended with a networking session, with key Malaysian F&B professionals. The attendees enjoyed a buffet featuring European Dairy from Ireland dairy ingredients, offering a first-hand experience of the high quality of European dairy from Ireland.

The Sustainable European Dairy from Ireland trade seminar is part of an EU co-funded awareness campaign that presents Ireland, as a member of Europe, as an example of the high-quality standards of sustainable dairy production in the region. This seminar marks the end of a three-year campaign to promote European Dairy from Ireland in Malaysia.