Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – The jewelry industry in Brazil employs nearly 350.000 people and it is in great expectation of expanding business in the world. Last year, the industry generated an income of US$ 700 million in exportation, representing a growth of five per cent on the figure of the same period in the previous year.
The prospect growth for the industry is to reach 2006 generating revenue of US$ 1 billion. And one of the main goals is to explore the Arab market.
“For the past three years the Brazilian jewelry has been present at international fairs in Dubai”, said Edmundo Calhau, the logistic-director of the Brazilian Institute of Precious Jewelry (IBGM).
According to Calhau, gold and rock artifacts, just like minerals used for decoration, display the main items in the jewelry from Brazil in these fairs.
“The Arabs appreciate a lot decoration artifacts like falcons and horses designed in absinth rocks”, said the director. “They are not used to wearing too many bright color rocks. The jewelry most known by the Arabs are rocks like sapphire and rubies, because they are rocks original from the Orient”, explains Calhau.
Nowadays there are nine joint ventures in Brazil that search new markets of exportation. According to Calhau, four companies produce jewelry in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, one explores rock artifacts in Rio Grande do Sul and other four work the precious minerals in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul.
He also said the industry has had initiatives in markets of Bahrain, like company Vancoux, from Belo Horizonte. The company has been present in this market for three consecutive years displaying its products at international fairs. “Working in the Bahrain market has solicited the inclusion of the country’s industry in the world calendar fair”.
One of the reasons of the success of the Brazilian jewelry in the international market is the exportation program sponsored by IBGM and the Brazilian Agency of Promotion and Exportation (Apex). The funding is linked to nearly 210 companies, most of them small business, and it is responsible for initiatives that promote the Brazilian products in the international market.
Through the program, the jewelry has gained a lot of the market share being shown at international fairs. In August, the 37th edition of the biggest international fair in South America, that took place in São Paulo, overcame its expectation and closed deals that had revenue of US$ 34 million. The event counted with 150 expositors and the latest design of the Brazilian jewelry was released in the international market.
In the country, there are over 1300 companies that invest in the jewelry industry, including those of rock casting, precious minerals and suppliers of gold and silver.
