São Paulo – The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply expects the business volume at the upcoming Gulfood fair to rise by 50% compared with last year’s edition. The Middle East’s largest food industry trade fair will be held from February 21st to 24th in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The information was supplied by Luiz Caruso, Foreign Trade analyst at the Ministry’s International Promotion Department.
“Last year, sales at the fair totalled US$ 10 million, and judging from the feedback that we had from businessmen, more than US$ 40 million in deals were expected to be closed in the 12 months that followed. This year, that figure is expected to be exceeded by at least 50%, i.e., US$ 15 million in deals at the fair, and over US$ 60 million in deals in the following 12 months,” said Caruso in an interview to ANBA.
According to the ministry’s representative, one of the strategies for strengthening the ’Brazil brand’ during the fair consists of using one single visual identity for all national companies. “Brazil is going to have 500 square metres of layout at the fair, and that should attract huge attention to the country. Brazil’s will be one of the largest participations at the fair.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply will participate in the fair for the third time, always in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Twelve companies will share a 54-square metre stand sponsored by the two organizations. Other companies and sectorial organisations will have their own stands at the fair.
In order to prepare for the event, the companies attended a seminar on the fair and the Arab market, at the Arab Brazilian Chamber headquarters in São Paulo today (9th).
Company New Millen went to the Saudi Agro Food, in Saudi Arabia, in November 2009, and is going to the Gulfood for the first time. According to its president, José Dantas, the company has nearly closed a sales deal for one or two containers, and is now negotiating eight more. New Millen is taking products such as soups, chocolate powder, curau (corn porridge) and sports supplements to the event.
According to Dantas, New Millen has already translated all of its promotional material, such as banners and folders, into Arabic.
Another first timer at the Gulfood is dairy company Mococa. According to Foreign Trade manager Sandro da Conceição, the enterprise is expecting to prospect for clients in the Arab market.
Novo Mel, in turn, will attend the event for the second time. The company is going to take to Dubai products such as honey from orange and eucalyptus flowers, as well as honey and propolis sprays.
Gulfood has already resulted in business deals for the company, according to Carlos Rehder, the Export manager of Novo Mel. “We closed a deal for half a container. The sale took place in October and now we are on our way to our second order.”
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
