São Paulo – Six Brazilian enterprises will attend Index, the leading furniture and interior design fair of the Middle East, due in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from September 24 to 27. The enterprises are involved in the Brazilian Furniture project, a partnership between the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex).
Of the participating companies, four are furniture makers – Colibri, Ditália, Finestra and Dellano – and two are decoration item makers – Cristais São Marcos and MZ Artes.
Adriana Katekawa, who is in charge of Commercial Intelligence at Abimóvel, highlights the successful participation of Brazilian companies at the event. “Last year, the four participating companies made contact with 345 buyers from the Emirates, Oman, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait,” she says.
“They all rated the fair as good or great,” says Katekawa. According to her, during the event, Brazilian companies closed US$ 75,000 worth in deals, expecting to close another US$ 1.7 million in the following 12 months. “The companies get great feedback from the fair, and they really like it,” says the Abimóvel executive.
According to Abimóvel figures, furniture exports from Brazil to the United Arab Emirates were up 30% in the first half of 2012 from the first half of 2011, from US$ 540,000 to US$ 710,000. Katekawa says both custom-made and ready-to-assemble furniture enjoy good acceptance in the Emirates.
About the fair
Index is currently in its 22nd edition. In 2011, the fair featured over 900 exhibiting companies from 45 different countries, and received 27,000 visitors from 94 countries. The event targets professionals, but on the last day visitation is open to the general public.
A wide range of products are shown, including furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, tiles, facing, bathroom ceramics and accessories, decoration items, lighting technology and accessories, and showcases of exterior projects such as playgrounds, decks, pools and others, to inspire architects and landscapists.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
