Erbil – The Fanem incubator exhibited at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce stand at Erbil International Fair, in Iraqi Kurdistan, calls attention of visitors. According to the representative of the Brazilian company in Iraq, Mohammed Mohsin Gaeed, of the United Horizon Company, more than 720 Fanem incubators have already been sold on the Iraqi market since 2003.
Hospital equipment by the company is distributed throughout the Iraqi market, but the strongest regions are capital Baghdad and Basra. According to Gaeed, it is in these cities that most doctors and specialists may be found, so there is greater demand for medical and hospital products and equipment.
This is the first time that Gaeed participates in the fair in Erbil. "We want to show the potential of Brazilian products, which have great quality, and there is a great market," stated the representative. He represents not only incubators, but also several other Fanem products, like hospital beds, laboratory equipment, phototherapy equipment and cribs, among others. The phototherapy systems for newly born children, for example, are also successful in Iraq, with over 1,000 items sold.
The main problem faced by United Horizon Company is logistics. According to the company representative, apart from the price of freight from Brazil, the products arrive through ports in Kuwait and Jordan, as there are many problems with the Iraqi port system.
At the fair, Fanem products call attention due to their quality, size and to the strong light issued, which attracts visitor attention. Those interested immediately inquire about the price, which is higher than that of Chinese products. "They often make comparisons with the prices of Chinese products, but I always emphasize the quality of Brazilian products," said Gaeed.
Difficult communication
The first day for export manager Camila Rodrigues, from furniture company Vila Rica, from Paraná, was very positive though complicated. According to her, the interest of visitors in company cupboards was great. However, the difficulty in communication is enormous, as most of the population of Kurdistan only speaks Kurdish. "Language is being a problem," she said.
According to her, in Erbil there are many furniture shops, showing that there are opportunities for Vila Rica products. All contacts made at the fair were with buyers from Kurdistan itself and from Iraq as a whole. "I noticed that there are opportunities, though it will be hard to negotiate," finished off Camila.
*Translated by Mark Ament
