Isaura Daniel*
São Paulo – Businessmen from the shoe industry sector in Tunisia signed an agreement with Brazilian producers of raw material for the sector this month. The sector forecasts closer ties between industries in both countries and has as one of its main objectives the supply of Brazilian inputs to the Tunisians, as well as the exchange of knowledge regarding the sector. It was signed between the Brazilian Association of Shoe and Leather Components Industries (Assintecal) and the National Federation of Leather and Shoes of the Arab country (FNCC).
"The agreement is a beacon, one of the results of the work of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council," stated the honorary consul of Tunisia in São Paulo and Marketing vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Rubens Hannun. Talks about the partnership began in November last year, when the Arab Brazilian Chamber organized a Brazilian mission to the Arab country for the meeting of the Business Council. The Assintecal was one of the Brazilian organizations that sent representatives on the mission and to the meeting.
According to the Assintecal, the agreement forecasts the exchange of information between businessmen from both countries, the promotion of opportunities for partnerships, assistance to the partner in the other country, especially during fairs and seminars, as well as the promotion of visits and missions, meetings and research.
The Brazil Tunisia Business Council identifies sectors in which there is interest in cooperation and trade exchange between both countries and promotes actions for closer ties between them, as is taking place with the Assintecal and FNCC. In Brazil it is presented by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and in Tunisia by the Tunisian Union of the Industry, Trade and Craft (Utica).
Results
A first result of the partnership will be the participation of four Tunisian businessmen in the International Fair of Leather, Chemicals, Components and Equipments for Footwear and Tanneries (Fimec), to take place between April 05 and 08, in the city of Novo Hamburgo, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. They were invited to participate in the fair as part of the Buyer Project, a program developed by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) together with the Assintecal.
The Buyer Project covers travel and housing expenses of foreign importers so they may participate in fairs in the sector. One day before the fair, on the 4th, the four Tunisians are going to participate, in business roundtables with Brazilian companies that make components for leather and shoes. "These businessmen will already come with information about Brazil. They were selected as Brazil identified that they have items for exchange with the country," explained Hannun. Apart from the businessmen from Tunisia, four Egyptians are also going to participate in the project.
This year the Fimec Buyer Project is going to receive a group of 20 businessmen from South Africa, Nigeria, Venezuela, Egypt, Tunisia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Colombia, as well as Egypt and Tunisia. Apart from participating in the business roundtables, importers are going to visit the fair and also companies they are interested in. The visits are coordinated by the Assintecal. Up to now, 90 Brazilian businesses associated to the Assintecal that are also exhibiting at the Fimec have registered to participate in the roundtables.
*Translated by Mark Ament
