Randa Achmawi*
Cairo – Brazilian food sector companies Brasfoods and Brazilian Pepper Trade Board have already closed deals for US$ 300,000 on the fist day of Cairo International Fair, which began yesterday (21) in Egypt. "The order was for a shipment of spices, like pepper, but we also have perspectives for the sale of coffee and nuts to other countries with which we made contact at the fair," stated the manager of Pepper Trade Board, Michail Wagapoff. Both companies work together, but belong to different people.
According to him, the contacts with importers had already been made by e-mail before arrival of the company representatives in Cairo, simplifying the closing of deals. Brasfoods is a company that grows, produces and exports spices and condiments from the southeastern Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Pepper Trade Board works as a broker in Brazil, but also as an intermediary in the sale to different countries.
Apart from this order, Pepper Trade Board also closed another deal. "While we were talking to a ginger producer from Kenya, and he was showing us his samples at one of out tables, an Egyptian buyer who was walking buy showed interest and proposed to buy them," stated Wagapoff, who charged a commission over the deal closed. "Apart from that, we are already forecasting selling the ginger of the Kenyan producer to our clients here in Egypt," added the manager of the trading company.
According to Wagapoff, in the sale of Kenyan ginger alone, he made a commission of US$ 7,000. "That was not bad at all for someone who made no effort to close the deal," he said. According to him, this is a proof of the potential of the event. "The fair is an excellent window we use during these five days in Egypt. At the fair we hope to increase the volume of business we are already developing. Apart from that, it helps us consolidate our presence in Egypt," he finished off.
Wagapoff added that the importers want to see more Brazilian exporters at the fair. "The importers said to me that they purchase pepper from Vietnam," stated Wagapoff. According to him, it is important to make better use of the opportunities and of the potential offered by Egypt, as it is one of the main consumers of spices in the world. "It is unacceptable that 95% of the coffee consumed in Egypt comes from Vietnam, and just 5% comes from Brazil. And in the case of spices, the situation is not much different. We believe that we have all possible chances of changing this situation," he said.
Arab Brazilian Chamber
On the first day of the fair, the Brazilian stand, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, was visited by 150 people. "At the Arab Brazilian Chamber stand, contacts were made with 46 people interested in buying manufactured food, raw meat, sugar, coffee, agricultural equipment, petrochemical products and wood from Brazil," stated the foreign trade analyst at the Chamber, Zein El Abedin, who is at the fair.
Apart form Brasfoods and Brazilian Pepper Trade Board, the fair also includes Brazilian companies Gigitel, a maker of telecommunications products, Ilumatic, in the public lighting area, and the Brazilian Halal Food Centre (Cibal).
*Translated by Mark Ament
