In October, Brazilian foreign sales to the Arab countries totalled US$ 1.3 billion. Sugar, soy oil and iron ore were the products most exported.
Author: Marina Sarruf
Agrícola Famosa, one of Brazil’s leading melon producers, is interested in establishing partnerships to export its fruit to the Arab market. The enterprise produces 140,000 tonnes per crop.
Executives in the luxury hotel chain in the Emirates met with representatives from the organisation, in São Paulo, to speak about their plans in Brazil.
Natural Cotton Color, from Paraíba, is producing 150 units of the long robes worn by women in the Arab country. The raw material is the coloured cotton developed by Embrapa.
Falah Mustafa Bakir, Foreign Minister of the Iraqi region, said that companies from Brazil need to learn about the potential of Kurdistan. According to him, distance is no problem.
The event generated good contacts for Brazilian companies and for the Arab Brazilian Chamber. Medical equipment, furniture and food were the products most sought.
The capital of Iraqi Kurdistan has grown at an accelerated rate in recent years. According to Kurdish businessmen, the city became the main market in Iraq after the war.
At the Brazilian stand in the fair in the Iraqi Kurdistan, no one speaks Kurdish, nor do the Kurds speak English or Portuguese. Still, visitors wait in line to take pictures with the Brazilian flag.
Eight months ago, businessman Izzeddin K. Wadi opened service company Irem to simplify cultural and commercial exchange between the Iraqi region and other countries. He wants Brazilian partnerships.
The prime minister of the Iraqi region, Barham Saleh, expressed interest in bringing bus and bus body makers into Kurdistan. He met with Brazilian ambassador Bernardo de Azevedo Brito in Erbil.
Hospital equipment by Fanem, exhibited at Kurdistan Fair, attracted visitors. The company representative in Iraq, Mohammed Gaeed, has already sold over 700 incubators in 7 years.
At the opening of Kurdistan Fair, the minister of Industry of Iraq, Fawzi Hariri, said the event is one of the most important for the country’s economy. The fair began today, in Erbil.
Over the last two years, the number of exhibitors at the multi-sectorial fair in Iraq has more than doubled, rising from 351 in 2007 to 772 in 2009. This year has already seen growth of 20%.
Brazilian products are little known in Iraq. According to the organizers of the International Erbil Fair, the presence of Brazil at the event is a must.
