São Paulo – Artisans from Minas Gerais showed their works in Muscat, the capital of Oman, last month, and have started making plans for the market in the Middle East. At the invitation of the organizers of Muscat Festival, through the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of Oman in Brasília, a group of three people took to the Arab country products made manually, including utensils in sandstone, costume jewellery, decorations and flowers made in cloth.
“We are now seeking recommendation of other fairs in the region turned to retailers,” said the export assistant at non-governmental organisation Mãos de Minas, Lucas de Melo Corrêa, who travelled to Oman with artisans Luciani Ribeiro Amorim and Evandro Baccara Kelmer.
Muscat Festival is turned to the public in general and operates as a great cultural and entertainment event, with pavilions in which products from several countries are shown. The artisans from Minas Gerais even made direct sales to consumers at the festival, although that is not the natural focus of their trips abroad. Corrêa, however, said that if they are invited, they will return to participate in Muscat Festival next year. “It is a good fair for retail sales and it is worth returning for the marketing of Brazilian handicraft in a World Cup year in Brazil,” said Corrêa to ANBA.
According to the professional from Mãos de Minas, the public in Muscat Festival was not just of locals, but also of foreigners from countries like Russia, Thailand, India, South Korea and even Brazil. “We met many foreigners, and many Brazilians,” he said, recalling that the Arab country receives a great number of workers from abroad.
Corrêa says that artisans were surprised by the negotiating capacity of the Arabs. “If you make a promotion, buy two and take three, they want the fourth,” he said. According to him, participation served as a first experience in the region.
The cloth flowers taken by artisan Luciani Ribeiro Amorim were successful in the region. She works with a group of senior citizens, who make the product. “The Arabs like colourful flowers,” said Corrêa. The other artisan, Evandro Baccara Kelmer, took products made by Indian communities, like necklaces, earrings, rattles, rings and pictures, among others. Utensils in sandstone by artisan Junior Flaviano Mapa were also taken, including pans, vases and salt cellars. Each one had a stand.
Muscat Festival took place from February 14th to 28th, and the travel costs of the artisans from Minas were covered by the fair organizers. Rafael Abdulmassih, who is responsible for the Business and Market area at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, accompanied the artisans during one of the days of the event.
NGO Mãos de Minas works on the promotion of handicraft. It has a partnership with another organisation in the same area, Centro Cape Institute, which operates in training. According to Corrêa, Mãos de Minas reaches some 1,700 artisans and among its operation is participation in fairs and events abroad to show the work of its members. Some of the artisans export through these contacts and others, in fact, export independently.
*Translated by Mark Ament
