São Paulo – From November 5 to 8, the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) are going to promote participation of seven Brazilian companies in the building sector at the Big 5, the largest fair in the sector in the Middle East, to take place in Dubai.
Among the companies approached by ANBA, the climate is one of good business expectations, with the rebound of the building sector in the region. "We are identifying a rebound of the economy and are betting that the fair should help return to growth in these countries,” said Jenifer Schutze, Foreign Trade manager at Menegotti, a maker of building machinery in Santa Catarina.
Currently, the company exports cement mixers to Saudi Arabia, but it has already done business with other countries in the region. "There is much market yet to be explored,” she says, regarding the Middle East. "The company’s strategic planning includes greater revenues in the region,” she said.
Tramontina is participating in the Big 5 for the second time, and is taking its lines of stainless steel sinks. "We understand that the fair is a good route to make contacts, as it receives visitors from several countries and regions. For this reason, we decided to participate again,” said Lucia Dendena, export manager.
Currently, Tramontina exports to five countries in the region: Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Libya. In total, the company sells to over 40 countries. According to Dendena, the company hopes to find new clients at the event. “Our main objective is to prospect, open new contacts,” she said.
Pado, a maker of locks and padlocks, is going to participate in the Big 5 for the first time, hoping to start exporting to the Arab country. "Pado is living a moment of great productivity. We produce two million locks a month and already dominate 70% of the domestic market. We therefore have to go abroad,” said Karli Vieira, Foreign Trade manager at the company. Today, foreign sales are not even 5% of production.
"Our intention at the fair is to learn about the market. Our product has a high quality standard and I believe that we may work well in terms of prices too,” said the executive. According to her, by the end of 2013, Pado should produce three million padlocks a month. "With the greater productivity, we can supply any market,” she finished off.
Also at the Brazilian stand at Big 5 will be companies Astra (of bathroom products), Pettrus (ornamental stone), Deca (bathroom metals and ceramics) and Universo Tintas (paint).
The 2011 edition of the Big 5 generated for Brazilian companies around 2,500 contacts with businessmen in the entire Gulf region and also countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. The fair attracts many buyers and investors from neighbouring countries to the United Arab Emirates, mainly South Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain.
*Translated by Mark Ament
