São Paulo – Executives from five Arab companies took part in meetings with Brazilian companies on Wednesday (21st) and Thursday (23rd) at Hospitalar, a trade show featuring products and equipment for hospitals, laboratories, drugstores, clinics and practices, in São Paulo. They attended matchmaking rounds held by the Brazilian Medical Equipment Manufacturers Association (Abimo) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).
The meetings have resulted in US$ 1 million worth of immediate sales, at the fair itself, but according to the Abimo Commercial Intelligence coordinator Katherine Guimarães, the Arab importers did not close any deals. She notes, however, that this is typical of the Arab culture. “Negotiation takes longer with them,” says Guimarães. She claims medical products trade with the Arab world is on the rise, and that they showed interest in the products showcased during the matchmaking. Some of them already import from Brazilian companies.
Most of the deals closed at the meetings were with Latin American countries, especially Peru and Colombia. For the next 12 months, the participating Brazilian companies believe US$ 13 million worth of sales should originate from contacts made during the matchmaking. The Abimo is unable to specify how much of that sum concerns Arabs yet, but Guimarães says not much.
The business meetings were attended by executives from 60 Brazilian companies, who said they were pleased with the profile of the participating importers. Guimarães says inviting Arab importers was worthwhile. According to her, the region is a strong importing market, although its certification requirements are not simple. The Arab companies in attendance were Sophiaco, from Morocco, International Bio Service, from Tunisia, Ibn Rush Drug Store, from Jordan, Middle East Organization, from Lebanon, and All Khaldiya Electronics, from Kuwait.
Hospitalar opened last Tuesday (20th) and will continue until Friday (23rd). No matchmaking will take place on the final day. The organizers were expecting to receive 1,250 exhibitors from 34 countries and over 90,000 visitors, as per an address made by Hospitalar chairwoman Waleska Santos on inaugurating the fair. In addition to the products on showcase, the fair features the Healthcare Forum, comprising more than 60 events to discuss the industry. A total of 12,000 people were expected to attend the congress.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
