São Paulo – Importers from the Emirates, Morocco and Jordan should be in Paraná next month to learn more about the local furniture production. They are going to participate in the Paraná Furniture Fair (Movelpar), in Arapongas, in the interior of the state. A total of 40 importers have already confirmed presence in the exhibition. Part of them – 20 businessmen – should come at the invitation of the Buyer Project, which includes buyers from other countries for business roundtables with national industries in the sector.
The United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Jordan should each have representatives. Importers from the two latter countries should travel as part of the Buyer Project and the one from the Emirates should come on his own accord, as he participated in Movelpar through the program last year. The Buyer Project should include representatives of 15 countries, according to Ana Flávia Pigozzo, the director of Conexão, the company responsible for organisation of the business roundtables.
According to Ana Flávia, up to last year it was not common for Arab importers to participate in Movelpar. But since then they started showing up. "Businessmen from Arapongas travelled to fairs in the region and the interest started being generated," she explained. According to her, the presence of Arab importers helps businessmen from Arapongas learn more about the specifications and demands of that market.
According to the director, the size of wardrobes in the Arab world, for example, is larger due to the kind of garments worn. The material used in production of the furniture is also different due to the high temperatures. With the crisis and the hardships faced by the United States and Europe, these markets, like the Arab, should guarantee sales. The Arapongas hub exports mainly to Africa and the Caribbean.
Last year, industries from the city and outskirts posted growth of around 10% in exports over 2007, exceeding US$ 70 million. The second main furniture hub in Brazil, in existence for around 50 years, is in the region. According to figures by the Arab Furniture Industry Union (Sima), there are 173 furniture factories in the city and 888 if the surrounding areas are considered. They answer to 65% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the city.
Movelpar takes place from March 9th to 13th, at Expoara Event Centre. The fair should include 180 exhibitors and receive 40,000 visitors. Apart from participating in meetings, the importers should visit stands and local industries. In the last edition of the fair, the Buyer Project generated US$ 4.2 million in immediate business. A total of 69 national companies met with 25 businessmen from 16 countries.
The Buyer Project is a partnership between the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) and the Brazilian Furniture, a program for incentives to exports of furniture that is connected to the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel), and is promoted by the Sima and Expoara.
*Translated by Mark Ament
