São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will have an institutional stand at Feira do Empreendedor (Entrepreneur’s Fair), due November 17 to 20 at Expo Center Norte, in the city of São Paulo. The event enables micro and small entrepreneurs from different sectors to interact and become familiar with new tools for increasing competitiveness. The event also helps future businessmen to better plan their ventures.
According to Rodrigo Solano, the coordinator of the Arab Brazilian Chamber’s Market Development Department, the organization’s stand will showcase existing opportunities for Brazilian companies to do business with the Arab countries. There already is a large amount of prospecting, for instance, in the food and ore industries. "What we have noticed is that many more small and medium entrepreneurs who do business with contacts supplied by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and are successful," he explains.
According to him, the purpose of attending the fair is to showcase the Arab Brazilian Chamber’s work and present possibilities of partnerships in the Arab world through the actions developed by the organization. "We are going to receive the businessmen, show them what is available and how we may help determine the interest of these enterprises, and then provide them with information in order to enhance their perception of existing opportunities," he says.
"Brazilian companies are somewhat timid regarding the Arab market, and I believe that it is due to lack of knowledge, which ends up giving rise to a cultural distance born from a mistake," claims Solano. "There are 12 million descendents of Arabs in Brazil, we eat Arab food, we have words of Arab origin in our vocabulary and they realize that. This similarity is an important factor when it comes to Arabs doing business with Brazilians," he states.
According to Solano there are opportunities in various industries, especially food, construction and fashion. "The best advice for businessmen willing to export to the Arabs is to be different. Creativity is everything," Solano teaches.
According to him, the 22 Arab countries comprise a consumer market of 350 million-plus people, with a GDP of over US$ 1.3 trillion that puts the region among the world’s ten leading economies. "Some of the countries have per capita incomes among the highest in the world. The Arab countries combined are among the leading target markets for Brazil, and small and medium businessmen may also take advantage of that," he says.
From January until October 2010, Brazilian exports have grown by 31%, from US$ 5.7 billion to US$ 10 billion. "The good news for small and medium enterprises is that exports of shoes and cotton fabrics have increased," says Solano.
The fair
The Entrepreneur’s Fair is one of the most successful events promoted by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae). Since 1995, it is held in different states and regions of the country, and each edition creates opportunities for hundreds of new business deals.
In order to exhibit at the fair, interested companies should present solutions and innovative ideas aiming to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of micro and small businesses. Initiatives must be different and liable to be used by other enterprises in order to improve their results. According to estimates, 40,000 people should attend the event this year.
The 2010 Entrepreneur’s Fair will be held at Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo, from November 17 to 19 from 02:00 pm to 09:00 pm, and on Saturday (20th) from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm.
Further information:
Site: www.feiradoempreendedor.sebrae.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
