São Paulo – Seven major Arab retail chains will partake in a matchmaking event with Brazilian companies on December 1st and 2nd in São Paulo. The importers are seeking new foodstuff and beverage suppliers. The meetings are an initiative of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).
The participating retailers are Atraco and Panda, from Saudi Arabia, the Lulu Group, from the United Arab Emirates, Hyper One and the El Mahmal Group, from Egypt, the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, from Kuwait and Groupex, from Morocco.
“We will have traditional companies as well as new players. We are trying to work with a broader range of exporters,” says Arab Chamber CEO Michel Alaby regarding the participating businesses. The retail chains from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have taken part in similar events in Brazil in the past, whereas those from Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco are coming to do business for the first time.
The Arabs are interested in items such as beef, poultry, produce, vegetables, fruit, greens, juices, coffee, sugar, rice, beans, dairy, pasta, oils, candy, chocolate, biscuits, honey, and cereal. “They want to find new suppliers,” Alaby asserts.
To the Arab Chamber’s CEO, the strength of the US dollar relative to Brazil’s real currency could spur deals between Brazilian companies and the Arab importers even further. “There are prospects of bigger sales,” the executive claims.
It’s worth noting that in 2014, Arab countries imported US$ 113.9 billion worth of food and beverages from around the world. They bought mostly cereals, dairy, meats, vegetable fats, sugar and fruit. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt are the leading
Arab importers.
Besides the matchmaking, the Arab importers will pay technical visits to a halal product certifier and a meat packing company. There are still slots available for Brazilian companies to take part in the event. Interested companies will be screened beforehand.
Matchmaking with Arab importers
December 1st and 2nd, from 9am
Where: Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Avenida Paulista, 326, 11th floor– São Paulo
Prices (in case company is approved)
For Arab Chamber members: BRL 750.00
Non-members: BRL 1,000.00
For additional information call (+55 11) 3147-4066 or send an email to members@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
