São Paulo – Two buyers from Arab companies are attending the international business matchmaking rounds of the 29th Supermarket Business Congress and Fair, promoted by the São Paulo State Supermarket Association (Apas), due on May 6th and 7th in São Paulo.
A representative from Jordan’s The Integrated Marketing EST, Mahmoud Odeh, is coming to Brazil seeking fruit and vegetables. The company already buys from other South American countries, such as Argentina and Chile.
The Emirates-based Rafi Agrifoods is interested in importing fruit pulp and juices. The company’s representative at the fair will be the Brazilian-born Ivan Morais. According to the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), which invited the Arab companies, Rafi imports US$ 80,000 worth of produce each year, on average.
According to Luciana Pacheco, manager of the Brazilian Fruit project, promoted by the Ibraf in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), the Arab importers’ attendance is the outcome of prospecting work done at the Gulfood, the Middle East’s leading food industry fair, held in February this year.
She says there is a very strong demand for fresh fruit in the Arab countries, but transport logistics get in the way of the more perishable items, such as papaya and mango.
“Some of the companies already export, especially to Dubai, by air. Some market niches value higher-quality product, even if the cost is higher. They are willing to pay for it,” Pacheco explains.
According to the Ibraf manager, items such as cashew nut, Brazil nut and macadamia are also widely accepted among the Arabs. “We already export sizeable amounts of cashew nut, sales of Brazil nut are on the rise, and they import macadamia from other countries because the Brazilian product lacks promotion,” she says.
Pacheco says not all of the Brazilian companies that the Arabs will negotiate with have been defined, because registration is still open to companies involved in the Brazilian Fruit project. Companies interested in engaging in matchmaking rounds should get in touch with Ibraf.
The fair
The matchmaking rounds will take place on May 6th and 7th, but the 29th Supermarket Business Congress and Fair will run from May 6th to 9th. A total of 70 international buyers will attend, through a partnership between the Apas and Apex.
The project involves companies affiliated to the Ibraf, to the National Biscuit Industry Association (Anib), Brazilian Cocoa and Confectionery Manufacturers Association (Abicab), and the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (Abic).
“The Apas and Apex have brought buyers exclusively to attend the fair before. This year, the associations have become involved, and Apex invited international buyers to watch the IndyCar race on the same date as the fair, so we have taken advantage of that,” says Apas vice president Ronaldo dos Santos. According to the executive, the importers will also pay visits to Brazilian companies.
Santos says the number of attending importers is growing. “Brazil’s good economic scenario is drawing growing numbers of international buyers to the fair,” he sys.
In 2012, he says, 600 international executives attended either the rounds or the fair itself. This year, the matchmaking rounds are expected to generate US$ 25 million worth of business, and the fair should generate US$ 55 million in deals with foreign buyers. The event will feature 550 domestic and foreign exhibitors.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
