São Paulo – The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) is considering the possibility of investing more in the search for business opportunities for Brazil in Libya. The African and Middle Eastern market analyst at the Apex-Brasil, Jacy Braga, has been in the country since last Monday (6th) to evaluate the potential of Tripoli International Fair and the possibility of developing specific actions for promotion of Brazilian products in the Arab country in 2010.
"Our objective is to analyse the fair’s operation, the profile of businessmen who visit the event, participate in meetings at the embassy (of Brazil to Libya) and also as government representatives," said Jacy Braga. "We are also considering setting up a larger Brazilian stand in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce at the fair next year," added Braga. The Arab Brazilian Chamber is already participating in the event with its own space.
According to Braga, who will be in Libya up to next week, the opportunities should be evaluated calmly, but Libya may enter the agency’s strategic planning for 2010, which is still being defined.
"Brazil is already showing the potential of its industry on the Libyan market," said Braga, referring to the stand set up by the Arab Brazilian Chamber. The space is showing Brazilian products in the food sector as well as shoes, textiles and medical-hospital products. Tripoli fair started on Thursday last week and ends next Sunday (12). The event, which is multisectorial, is at its 38th edition.
Last year, exports from Brazil to Libya generated US$ 373 million, growth of 56% over 2007. Iron ore, beef, sugar, butane, maize, granite and coffee were the main products shipped in 2008. Brazilian imports from Libya last year, in turn, totalled US$ 1.4 billion against US$ 997.6 million in 2007. Oil and naphtha for the petrochemical industry are the main products responsible for the deficit, for Brazil, in the trade balance between both nations.
*Translated by Mark Ament
