São Paulo – A Brazilian supermarket chain joined the Elite Buyers Programme, an international business meeting held on the 15th and 16th of this month by export promotion agency Dubai Exports, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Dubai Exports’ office in São Paulo said this Wednesday (29) that the event was attended by 11 international buyers and 54 companies affiliated with the agency.
Besides the Brazilian company, whose name was not disclosed, importers were in attendance from Hong Kong, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Dubai Exports said the event included presentations about organizations devoted to supporting trade and investment in Dubai, B2B sessions, visits to a food manufacturing plant and to the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
Dubai Exports said the Brazilian supermarket chain owns 18 stores in the São Paulo metro area. It had gotten in touch with two UAE food manufacturers at the São Paulo Supermarkets Association Show (Apas Show) last May. Dubai Exports brought ten companies to exhibit at a stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce at the Apas Show.
The agency said a representative from the Brazilian supermarket chain which joined the Elite Buyers Programme got back in touch with the manufacturers in the UAE, and personnel from the latter are expected to travel to Brazil again this year.
Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported this week that the 11 international companies invited to join the program sell USD 2.1 billion worth of product per year.
The UAE-based companies involved in the B2B sessions deal in beverages, bakery, canned goods, frozen items, personal care, cleaning products and stationery.
“The aim of the Elite Buyers Programme was to allow UAE exporters to reach a targeted audience and influential buyers in one condensed session,” WAM quoted Dubai Exports deputy CEO Mohammed Al Kamali as saying. The international buyers had the opportunity not only to meet UAE exporters but also test and try the products thereby providing immediate feedback,” he went on to say, stressing that “nothing is as effective as face-to-face engagement” when it comes to doing business.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum