São Paulo – The 16th edition of civil construction fair Project Lebanon ended this Friday (3rd), in Beirut, and showed to Brazilian companies that there is a chance of making a profit doing business with the Arab country. A representative of sanitary ware brands Roca, Incepa, Celite, Henry Bousaad stated that he made contacts during the fair in order to sell to more buyers before the end of the year.
Bousaad is hoping that after the current edition of the fair, which started on May 31st, his business in the country will increase. “I did not sign any contracts, but I have made many contacts that may boost my sales in coming months,” he says. He has represented the same manufacturers for over 12 years now, and claims that he sells from 6 to 12 containers’ worth of Brazilian products to Lebanon each year. “I am going to increase the amount of containers that I sell here in Lebanon. The fair was great,” he said.
Project Lebanon featured approximately 600 exhibitors from 25 countries. it is one of the leading fairs in Lebanon. For the first time in 16 editions, the event counted on the participation of the Brazilian embassy to Beirut. The diplomatic representation and the Ministry of Foreign Relations assembled a 90-square metre stand that featured the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and companies such as Dacaza, Portobolello and Manfield, among others. Some companies have already closed deals. Others have scheduled meetings for after the event.
According to the head of the commercial department at the Brazilian embassy to Beirut, Rodolfo Ribeiro, Project Lebanon has paved the way for Brazilian companies that do not operate in Lebanon yet to start selling in the country. “The fair was outstanding, it exceeded all our expectations. I believe that many Brazilian companies will enter Lebanon,” he said.
In the first four months of the year, Brazil exported the equivalent of US$ 92.5 million to Lebanon, 14.7% more than the US$ 80.6 million exported during the same period of last year. Meats, livestock and coffee were the main products shipped. These products combined accounted for 78.5% of sales during the period.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
