São Paulo – Arab importers from six different companies will attend the 15th Expodireto Cotrijal, an agribusiness fair due from March 10 to 14 in the municipality of Não-Me-Toque, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The executives will come from the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Oman, Morocco, Iraq and Algeria. They were shortlisted and invited by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Expodireto organizers.
The visitors represent companies Al Qudwa Foodstuff, from the UAE, Dal Engineering, from Sudan, Gusto Distribution, from Oman, Koutoubia Holding, from Morocco, Noord Trading Company for Agriculture Machine Parts and Power Transmission, from Erbil, Iraq, and Onab Trade, from Algeria. According to the Arab Brazilian Chamber Government Relations manager Tamer Mansour, the companies import foodstuffs and agricultural machinery.
“Southern Brazil is rich in agribusiness, beef, poultry and grain,” says Mansour. This is the second time that the Arab Brazilian Chamber helps the Expodireto organizers bring importers from the Middle East and North Africa. The Arabs will visit the fair on Wednesday, March 12, take part in the matchmaking rounds with Brazilian suppliers on the 13th, and pay visits to meat packing companies on the 14th, the final day of the fair. They will be accompanied by Arab Brazilian Chamber personnel.
Expodireto Cotrijal is hosted by Cotrijal Cooperativa Agropecuária e Industrial, a cooperative active in the production, storage, processing and sale of agribusiness products. The fair introduces new technologies and products, and functions as a point of sale of commodities, machinery and other industry-related items. In 2013, the fair had over 150 foreign guests from 74 different countries. They attended business meetings that led to a combined US$ 121 million worth of deals.
This year, according to Expodireto Cotrijal’sinternational coordinator, Evaldo Silva Junior, 77 companies will be represented. Evaldo is the chairman of Via Marketing Brasil, the company in charge of handling marketing, media and international relations for Expodireto since 2009. According to Junior, the partnership between the fair and the Arab Brazilian Chamber makes it possible to do business with Arab countries, respecting and understanding the existing cultural differences. The Arab Brazilian Chamber’s assistance makes it easier to reach an understanding with the Arabs, according to Junior, since the Arabic language often prevents deals from being closed, and makes market access difficult.
Expodireto features exhibitors from various sectors of the agribusiness industry, such as agricultural machinery, agricultural aviation, seeds, fertilizers, biotechnology, agricultural research organizations, soil handling systems, family farming products, cattle farming, and veterinary medication. The fair also stages debates focusing on soy, dairy, maize, and forest products, among others.
15th Expodireto Cotrijal
March 10 to 14, 2014
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Expodireto Cotrijal Park
Não-Me-Toque – Rio Grande do Sul
Info: (+55 55) 3332 3636
www.expodireto.cotrijal.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
