São Paulo – Placing construction products with quality and added value on the Arab market. This was one of the tips given by the CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, to businessmen, builders and architects from the state of Santa Catarina who are interested in the region. Alaby spoke this Tuesday (2nd), in a seminar at the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (Fiesc, in the Portuguese acronym), in Florianópolis, which launched a business mission of the building industry to the United Arab Emirates, scheduled to take place from November 17th to 26th.
“You must seek market niches,” said the CEO regarding the demand for quality products in the Arab world. According to him, in the segment of popular products, for instance, there already is a strong Chinese presence, which makes it difficult to compete. He highlights that Brazil, including Santa Catarina, has quality construction products to offer, such as granite, marble and ceramic floor tiles. Alaby also gave tips on negotiating with the Arabs to the businessmen in attendance.
The meeting in Florianópolis was attended by approximately 30 people. The seminar was broadcast via teleconference to ten states of Brazil, by means of the Brazilian Network of International Business Centres (CIN), coordinated by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI) and by the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex). The Apex organizes the mission alongside the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the Fiesc. Companies from across the country, however, may participate, as the Fiesc is part of the CNI.
During part of the mission, from November 21st to 24th, Dubai will host the Big 5, the leading construction fair for the industry, which will be visited by the group. According to Alaby, the businessmen on the mission will also be able to attend the fair as exhibitors, if interested. The Brazilian pavilion at the Big 5 will feature 22 exhibitors.
At the meeting in Florianópolis, a rough schedule of the mission was presented, and the potential of the building industry in the Emirates and region was shown to the group. According to information supplied by the Fiesc’s communication advisory, the commercial intelligence analyst at the Apex, João Ulisses Pimenta, stated that the opportunities for Brazilian businessmen are available mainly in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, an economic bloc comprising Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the Emirates, Kuwait and Oman, where the consumption is strongest.
Like Alaby, Pimenta highlighted the opportunities for quality products in the region, including furniture. “There is a strong potential for selling furniture, but Arab consumers seek sophisticated products and places high value on design,” said Pimenta.
This Thursday (4th), starting at 02:00 pm, a seminar will be held on the Big 5 and the Arab construction market in São Paulo, at the Arab Brazilian Chamber headquarters. To enrol, contact the organization (see below).
Further information
Arab Brazilian Chamber, with Simone Rojas
Tel.: (+55 11) 3147-4095
E-mail: simone_rojas@ccab.org.br
Chamber site: www.ccab.org.br
Fair site: www.thebig5.ae
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
