São Paulo – Index (International Design Exhibition), a furniture and decoration fair due from the 19th to the 22nd this month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will feature 12 exhibiting companies from Brazil. The companies’ participation is organized by the Brazilian Furniture project, held in partnership by the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).
The exhibiting companies are BRV, Ditália, Eco Design, Multimóveis, Lopas, Politorno, Rotta Móveis, Saccaro, Santos Andirá, Telasul and Unicasa, all of which are furniture makers, and Cristais São Marcos, a manufacturer of decorative items. This will be the Brazilian Furniture project’s tenth time at the event in Dubai. Products on display will include furniture for dining rooms, sleeping rooms, external areas and decoration.
In 2013, eight Brazilian companies took part in Index. During the event, they made a combined 589 business contacts, leading to US$ 800,000 worth of deals closed, and US$ 2.2 million in future business prospects. “There is no question that the higher number of companies [at the fair] is testament to the fact that interest in the [Arab] market has grown,” explains Caliandra Cunha, who handles commercial intelligence for the Brazilian Furniture project.
According to Abimóvel figures, last year the Brazilian furniture industry shipped US$ 1.8 million worth of product to the United Arab Emirates, down 40% from 2012. Despite the decline sales, Cunha still regards the Gulf country as an important target for the Brazilian furniture industry.
“Plummeting exports notwithstanding, the market attracts increasing attention, since it is a hub and provides access other Middle Eastern markets, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, in addition to India. Besides, it helps strengthen the Brazilian brands, and therefore contributes to the image of Brazilian furniture abroad,” says the executive.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
