Marina Sarruf*
marina.sarruf@anba.com.br
São Paulo – Sudanese, Saudi and Egyptian businessmen sought the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce stand at Khartoum International Fair, in Sudanese capital Khartoum yesterday, the first day of the fair. They were after information about importing coffee, paper, plastic and soy oil from Brazil. According to the foreign trade advisor at the Arab-Brazilian Chamber, Rafael Abdulmassih, who is at the fair, around 20 businessmen visited the stand. This took place before the event was opened to the public, as yesterday was only the official opening of the fair.
According to Abdulmassih, the businessmen inquired about the services provided by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and left their contacts to exchange business information. Apart from Abdulmassih, the market development analyst at the Chamber, Jean Gonçalves da Silva, is also at the fair.
The opening of the event, which is multi-sector, was hosted by the vice president of Southern Sudan, Ali Osman Taha, who visited all the stands at the fair. According to Abdulmassih, the Brazilian ambassador to Sudan, Helio Magalhães de Mendonça, stated that the Arab country is growing very much and that it is an important market to be explored by Brazilian companies. The ambassador also praised the third Arab- Brazilian Chamber participation in the event.
This year, over 10 companies sent product catalogues to be distributed at the Arab Chamber stand. Among the sectors represented are furniture, cosmetics, surgery material, food, agricultural equipment, wood and lighting fixtures.
Apart from the companies, sector organisations also sent promotional material, among them the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (Abic), the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), the Brazilian Food Processors Association (Abia), the Association of the Manufacturers of Medical and Dental Products (Abimo) and the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimovel).
The Arab Chamber stand covers an area of 30 square metres and is located in Pavilion 1, beside the stands of Indonesia and Egypt. According to Abdulmassih, at the site there are many stands of companies from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which should cause a greater number of businessmen from these countries to visit the Brazilian stand up to the last day of the event, February 1st.
Last year, the main Brazilian products exported to Sudan were sugar, milk, tractors and other agricultural equipment, tobacco, chicken and chewing gum. Sales to the Arab countries totalled US$ 46.88 million. Brazilian imports from Sudan, in turn, totalled US$ 192,950, being goat and sheep hides, plants for perfumery and medicine and gum Arabic the main products purchased.
*Translated by Mark Ament
