In the accord with the European Union, the Mercosur is prepared to reduce tariffs on products in both sectors. This information was provided on Monday (14) by Brazilian Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade minister Luiz Fernando Furlan, during the 11th Unctad.
Author: Isaura Daniel
Isaura Daniel
A journalist with a degree from Unisinos and experience in economy and finance, she has been responsible for international coverages and amassed eight journalism prizes.
The fair started on Sunday (13), as part of the 11th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), and should go on to Friday (18). Apart from the exhibition, there will be debates and business roundtables in areas such as energy, nano-technology, and biotechnology.
Leaders of the Civil Society Forum, a debate space for non-governmental organizations, taking place parallel to Unctad, want the entity to forward world agreements on the commercialisation of commodities, halting the fall of prices paid to rural producers. The issue was raised in the presence of Unctad’s secretary general, who participated in the forum on Friday (11) afternoon.
The brand, which has become internationally famous in fashion, already sends around 7% of export to Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Starting next year, the company is going to have a trade agent in the Middle East and sales are going to reach 15%. The brand campaigns and pageants are in the hands of some of the best paid international models like Naomi Campbell and Shirley Mallmann.
Approximately 300 small Brazilian businesses have been prepared to work as service providers and product suppliers for the sector. After having prospected the Brazilian market, they now wish to export.
The Arab countries are replacing import from traditional beef suppliers like the United States and the European Union, and are purchasing more from Brazil. Herds in both regions face mad cow disease. Cattle beef was the product that generated the second largest volume of export revenues in Brazilian agribusiness in May, with sales of US$ 477 million.
The Conference, to begin on June 13 in Brazilian financial capital São Paulo, may be an opportunity for closer relations between importers and exporters in both regions. The part played by the Unctad as an organization for the defence of the interests of developing countries will also be discussed. NGOs and scholars state that the USA and Europe are trying to weaken the organization.
Distributors from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria are participating in business roundtables at Expo Center Norte (in Brazilian financial centre São Paulo) during hospital sector fair Hospitalar. These contacts should generate business for Brazilian laboratory equipment, cardiovascular product, and oxygen installation suppliers.
The industry from the state of Paraná ships half of its dyes and creams to the Arab countries despite having started trade relations with the region only 11 months ago. Nowadays, 5% of the 45 million units produced every year by Bonyplus are sold on the foreign market. The target is to increase this percentage to 40%.
This Tuesday (01) the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) should be signing an agreement with the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) to promote Brazilian cattle beef sales on the international market. The objective is to increase trade with the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America, as well as opening new markets such as China, Japan, Mexico, and the Untied States.
The company started selling to the country at the end of last year and should double export revenue to the region this year. The Middle East represents 6% of company export. The factory produces from shorts to tracksuits and sports accessories.
The increase in milk, cheese, and butter sales to the Arab countries is helping revert the sector trade deficit. The negative balance has already dropped significantly in the first four months of the year. The Arab nations purchased 3,300 tonnes or US$ 5.8 million in Brazilian dairy products.
Brazilian factories shipped 24% more clothes, fabric, and thread to the Arab countries in the first four months of 2004 than they had in the same period last year. The percentage was above sector export growth as a whole, which reached 10% up to April.
The company exports one third of the lollipops, sweets, and chewing gum produced at their factory in the city of Erechim, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. In the Middle East, the main buyer is Palestine, which has shown itself as a faithful client. The region should answer to 15% of company foreign trade this year.
