São Paulo – Ten importers from Arab countries have been invited to the Zero Grau Shoes and Accessories Fair, due from November 17th to 19th in Gramado, a municipality in the Serra Gaúcha mountain range, located in Brazil’s southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul. Four importers are from Saudi Arabia, one is from the United Arab Emirates, one is from Oman and four are from Kuwait. The Kuwaiti company has confirmed its presence.
The guest importers will receive airfare and lodging in order to visit the fair and the stands of exhibitors registered with the event’s international project. They will follow a preset schedule but there will be some leeway, according to Frederico Pletsch, director of Zero Grau organizing company Merkator Feiras e Eventos. Merkator is expecting 60 importers from areas such as Europe, Africa, Oceania and Latin America, aside from the Middle East.
According to Pletsch, this should be the first time such a significant number of Arabs will attend. “We are initiating a relationship with these countries with an eye on the long term. We are hoping to see the number of importers go up each year,” he says. The organizers invite importers in order to assist the local shoe industry in exporting. The international project has been a part of Zero Grau for five editions now.
“Over the past few years, the industry is tending to export proprietary brands, unlike what happened in the beginning, back in the 70s. Back then, importers would order products and provide their specifications. Now, the models designed in our factories are shipped worldwide. This entails an increased added value that the industry can aggregate to its product,” says Pletsch.
The Arab companies invited are Onaizah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Panda Hypermarket, Al-Dagal Ltda and Sodas, from Saudi Arabia. From the United Arab Emirates, K.M.Trading. From Kuwait, the organizers have invited Anwar Al Qatami, Armando Co, Solitaire Group General Trading CO. and Alsirhan Shoes. The latter has confirmed its presence. From Oman, the Al Khamis Trading Company has been invited.
Zero Grau will feature new autumn-winter collections. The fair is for storeowners and industry professionals only, and features new fashion items, technologies and raw materials. The event takes place at the Serra Park Events Centre from 9 am to 7 pm. The Serra Gaúcha mountain range, where the event is held, is a major shoes and accessories manufacturing hub.
Service:
Zero Grau Expo
November 17 to 19, 2014
From 9 am to 7 pm
Serra Park Events Centre
Gramado – Rio Grande do Sul
Website: www.feirazerograu.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
