Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – The rising export scenery should continue in the furniture sector this year. Movelsul Brasil 2004, the largest event in the furniture sector in Latin America, to take place between March 8 and 12 in Bento Gonçalves, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, will, for the first time, receive buyers from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, who have recently done business with the Brazilian furniture sector, and from North and South Africa.
Organizers of the event have participated in many international trade fairs in the sector so as to publicize the event. In 2003, Movelsul had a stand in the main furniture events in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, China, the United States, Russia, and the Middle East – and, especially, in the Brazilian Week in Dubai, between December 7 and 9, which served to establish varied contacts.
"The extraordinary export growth has given us even more enthusiasm in publicizing the fair, as we want to strengthen domestic sales and improve our relations with the foreign market," pointed out Gustavo Milan, director of the international area of Movelsul Brasil 2004 fair and of Projeto Comprador (Buyer Project), sponsored by the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (APEX-Brasil).
The project is one of the instruments used to bring representatives from all continents to the fair and should bring 25 importers to the event.
Movelsul Brasil 2004 is organized by the Bento Gonçalves Furniture Industry Union (Sindimóveis) and focuses on export. The event has been taking place every two years since 1977.
The March 2002 edition received 414 exhibitors from 12 Brazilian states and 32,525 visitors from 53 countries. In the 2004 edition, visitors from over 60 countries are expected.
Businessmen interested in visiting the fair may request information through e-mails internacional@movelsul.com.br and danielagiardin@movelsul.com.br
Brasília Export
Arab businessmen coming to Brazil for Movelsul 2004 are also interested in increasing Brazilian furniture import.
Representatives from Marlin Furniture, which belongs to the Almussa group, one of the largest in the Arab world, have already confirmed their interest in negotiations for a partnership with export consortium Brasília Export.
According to the consortium president, José Luiz Diaz Fernandez, negotiations are also taking place with companies in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. "The Arabs have had the opportunity of getting to know the Brazilian production potential and have become interested in increasing the trade volume," he said.
Consortium participation in the multi sector fair in Dubai, in December 2003, generated good business and new contacts. At the end of last year, producers from country capital Brasília shipped US$ 37,000 in furniture to the United Arab Emirates and, up to the end of January, should be shipping another US$ 30,000 load.
Brasilia Export is made up of seven companies that have been exporting to the Arab countries for two years (Bradiv Indústria e Comércio, Cimpla Comercial e Industrial do Planalto, Móveis German, Nobel Móveis Ltda, Stok Office Divisórias e Mobiliário, WGL Indústria de Móveis e Styllus Móveis).
In 2001 the consortium signed its first export contract and, from then on, sales have risen considerably. "In 2001 the group exported US$ 100,000, in 2002, US$ 200,000, and US$ 300 mil in 2003", commemorates Fernandez.
