São Paulo – Among the 14 countries that are going to participate in the business roundtables of the 13th International Business Meeting of the Northeast, which begins today (26) in Fortaleza, Ceará, are trading companies Jordan Br, from Jordan, and Bragito, from Egypt. Both are seeking food and handicraft produced by micro and small companies from Ceará.
The event, which ends tomorrow (27), is promoted by the Ceará state branch of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) and should include participation of 160 companies and associations from the state who already have an agenda of meetings with international buyers. According to information disclosed by the Sebrae/CE, the objective is to open new markets for small companies in the region.
Both Arab companies to participate in the event already have representative offices in Brazil. In the case of Bragito, which imports and exports soy, maize, beef, coffee and fruit, the company has an office in São Carlos, in Santa Catarina state.
Apart from the Arabs, the event should also count on the participation of companies from Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Cape Verde, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Portugal, Costa Rica and China. The sectors to be presented to international buyers are food, beverages, handicraft, cosmetics, floriculture, beach and casual fashion and lingerie.
Despite the global crisis, the Sebrae/CE hopes that the meetings should generate a turnover of 30 million reals (US$ 13,4 million) in business for companies from the state, the same amount as generated last year. Apart from business, the organisation believes that the event should be an opportunity for micro and small companies to show the potential of the companies of Ceará.
Last year, exports of the state to the Arab League (which includes 22 countries) generated US$ 17.65 million, growth of 21% over 2007. The main products shipped were cashew nuts, rubber footwear, cooking equipment, fabric and sewing machinery. On the other hand, imports from Ceará to the Arab market totalled US$ 345,240 in 2008, against US$ 86,000 in 2007. Plastic fibre, marble and integrated circuits were the Arab products most imported by the state.
*Translated by Mark Ament
