São Paulo – Furniture and design fair Index, to take place from October 22nd to 25th, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, should include the participation of four Brazilian companies: Cristais São Marcos, Dell Anno, Itatiaia Móveis and MZ Artes. The presence of Brazilian companies is being organized by the Brazilian Furniture project, in partnership with the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex).
The Brazilian stand will also present companies that are not going to exhibit. “All demands that cannot be immediately supplied will later be forwarded to Brazilian companies,” said Vinicius Gerard, Trade Promotion coordinator of the Brazilian Furniture.
MZ Artes is participating for the fifth time. The company, which produces decorative panels and mirrors, has clients in the Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. According to Karina Botelho, the Export manager at Trade Route, who is responsible for company business in the foreign market, sales to the Arab world are around 100 items a year. “All sales take place during the fair,” she stated.
The executive stated that, beyond the trade of products, MZ Artes is also interested in finding a partner in the Arab world. “We would like to have a partner to represent us in the region and set up an exclusive shop for retail of our products,” he pointed out.
This year, Dell Anno, which has been participating in Index since 2006, should “seek new business, contact current clients and guarantee the brand’s presence in the country”, explained Juliano Barretti, the company Export manager. Dell Anno makes kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, home theatre and home office furniture.
To the fair, the company should take items for kitchens and bedrooms. The company currently exports to the Emirates and Kuwait. Sales to the Arabs represent 8% of brand exports. “The Arab market has lived a crisis, but is already returning to purchases. We therefore have great perspectives for the fair,” said Barretti. According to the executive, the company hopes to increase Arab participation in exports to 15% in 2012.
In 2009, Brazilian companies closed the equivalent to US$ 838,500 in business during the Index, with expectations for US$ 5.96 million in future business. In 2010, due to the global economic Crisis, Brazil had smaller participation in the fair, and the contacts generated during the event generated US$ 125,000, with future business estimates at US$ 2.24 million. “We expect some US$ 100,000 to be closed in deals at the next Index,” said the coordinator of Brazilian Furniture, pointing out that exchange rate oscillations do not allow for projected growth to the Arabs.
Up to now, total Brazilian furniture sector exports have reached US$ 478.69 million. Of this value, the Arabs represent just 0.6%, or US$ 2.676 million. The main Arab buyers of Brazilian sector products are, in this order, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Algeria and Qatar.
*Translated by Mark Ament
