São Paulo – Brazilian handicraft exports are on the rise. Among the companies participating in an international project in the sector, revenues with sales reached US$ 38 million from January to October this year, as against US$ 20 million in the same month last year. The protagonists of these figures are around 250 artisans, who do their business through cooperatives, associations and companies in the area.
“The growth took place mainly due to trade promotion promoted with the support of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex)”, said the executive manager at the Brazilian Handicraft Export Association (Abexa), Pedro Gabrich. Abexa is developing a project for international insertion in the sector with the Apex. This year, the initiative promoted 19 actions, including participation in fairs in Brazil and abroad and participation in business roundtables with importers.
The establishment of Abexa itself, according to Gabrich, fostered exports. The organisation was established in November 2010 and started operating in the middle of the following year, when an agreement was signed with the Apex. The congregation of associations of artisans through Abexa strengthened the sector. The organisation started with few associates – early last year there were two – but currently counts on 17, including associations, companies and handicraft cooperatives. Abexa was created with Apex support.
Currently, the group’s handicraft exports are focussed on decorations, furniture and fashion. In decoration, soapstone products are among those that generate great success abroad. Actions for commercial promotion are focussed on Europe and the United States and the main markets for Brazilian handicraft abroad are the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States. The Arab countries are not a focus of the project, according to Gabrich.
“I hope that with the support of the Apex, the growth of exports may be even greater in 2014”, said the managing executive at Abexa, to ANBA. Most of the sales are through associations and organisations that bring the artisans together, but some of these professionals also export on their own accord, through the Brazilian postal service, and through trading companies, explained Gabrich.
Contact
Brazilian Handicraft Export Association – Abexa
Telephone: (+55 61) 3326 3139
Site: www.abexa.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
