São Paulo – A group of Arab food exporters will take part in the 30th edition of the São Paulo State Supermarket Association (Apas, in the Portuguese acronym) fair, from May 5th to 8th, in São Paulo. They will be in a stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
The Arabs who will be at the event come from Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria. Olive oil, olives herbal and fruit teas, seeds, dates, fruit juice, artichoke, pickles and dairy are among the products they want to sell to Brazil. Overall, there will be around ten companies from the region interested in exporting to Brazilian supermarkets.
These companies are part of the first Seller Project promoted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber in the Apas fair. “This action has the intention of promoting a bigger flux of Arab products to Brazil, so that the end consumers and supermarket chains know what the Arab have to offer”, points out Karina Cassapula, Marketing coordinator in the organization.
She says that the Arab Brazilian Chamber has already decided on organizing the Seller Project with Apas for two years, 2014 and 2015. “The idea is not to have an isolated action, but to have more of these actions; that is why we are also promoting forums in North Africa and the Gulf during these two years. We want not only to promote the importing of the Arab products, but also the investment of those countries in several sectors”, she explains.
The Arab presence in the fair also has the support from the embassies of the attending countries. The stand in which they will be is 66 square meters, an exhibition area and a small counter for product tasting. There will not be pre-scheduled matchmaking rounds and the people interested in speaking with the Arab sellers can go directly to the Arab Brazilian Chamber stand.
Own stand
The Tunisian olive-oil maker Al Jazira will also be in the Apas fair, but in their own stand. It is the first time the company takes part in an event in Brazil.
“We want to prospect the market and show our products. It will be a good opportunity to show our olive oil to Brazil”, explains Imene Baccouche, the Tunisian company representative. Al Jazira does not export to the Brazilian market yet.
Annually, the company produces 10,000 tonnes of olive oil, from which 60% are exported, mainly, to Libya and Algeria, but also to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Japan and China.
Service
Apas 2014 – 30th Congress and Business Fair
Exhibition: 05/05 to 05/07, from 2pm to 10pm; and 05/08/2014, from 2pm to 8pm;
Place: Expo Center Norte, at Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333 – Vila Guilherme, São Paulo – SP
Information on how to subscribe for the fair is available at http://www.feiraapas.com.br/congresso/inscreva-se/?lang=en
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
