São Paulo – Representatives of six Arab importers of food are in São Paulo seeking Brazilian products. They are from supermarket chains and from trading compnaies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait and Bahrain and are going to participate in business roundtables at the International Supermarket Business Fair (Apas). The event begins today (18th) and ends of Thursday (21st) at the Expo Center Norte.
The business roundtables, to take place from the 19th to 21st, should receive around 70 Brazilian producers and traders of foods. The meetings are organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). "Our main objective is bringing Arab countries closer to the Brazilian market. We are trying to bring (to the event) companies that do not yet import from Brazil," said the foreign trade coordinator at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Francisca Barros.
According to her, the idea is to start organising more events like this one, always diversifying the countries involved. "The Arab companies chosen are qualified and are among the great importers of food from the Middle East," said Francisca. According to her, bringing Arab businessmen to a fair is very different from taking Brazilain companies to business roundtables in the Arab countries. “At the fair, the Arabs may learn a little more about the products and even be invited to visit the factories," he added.
The business roundtables are part of Apex project "Flavours of Brazil", which in February took to Dubai over 20 Brazilian companies in the food sector to participate in meetings with Arab importers. To promote trade between the Arabs and Brazilians, the Arab Brazilian Chamber is going to have a stand at the fair to provide assistance to all businessmen interested.
Among the Arab companies to participate in the roundtables are Al Maya Supermarkets, in Al Maya Group, in the United Arab Emirates, which already imports chicken, powdered milk, jelly and jerked beef from Brazil. With 18 shops in the country and employing 3,000 people, the group is seeking milk and dairy products, fruit, coffee, tea, honey, cereals, sugar, juice and sweets. Another company that already imports meats, grain and chocolate from Brazil and that wants to diversify the import basket is Jordanian group Ibrahim Odeh and Partners. The Jordan Centre for Trade and Investment, which is also from Jordan, in turn, does not yet buy from Brazil.
Other companies to participate in the roundtables are Ali Essa Aldaaysi, a supermarket chain from Bahrain, which already imports chicken and beef from Brazil, Alsaeed Trading Company, the largest trading company in the sector in Yemen, and Sultan Center Company, with 11 shops in Kuwait and operations in Oman and Jordan.
This morning, Arab businessmen are going to participate in a seminar at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, in São Paulo, where they should see a talk about the potential of Brazil in economic aspects, business opportunities and foreign trade. The talk should be given by the Market Development manager at the organisation, Rodrigo Solano. There should also be another talk about the Brazilian food sector, presented by a representative of the Brazilian Food Processors Association (Abia).
Service
Apas 2009
Date: May 18th to 21st, from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Site: Expo Center Norte, rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, Vila Guilherme, São Paulo
Information: www.portalapas.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
