Randa Achmawi, special report for ANBA*
Cairo – Brazilian producers of leather components, shoes and accessories closed deals during the second edition of Inter Leather, the international leather fair, which ended on Sunday (20) in Cairo, the Egyptian capital. A group of around 20 companies participated in the fair as part of the activities of a mission that the Brazilian Association of Shoe and Leather Components Industries (Assintecal) and the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) are promoting to five Arab countries in Africa.
Uniflex, a company specialized in the production of polyurethane soles, was one of the companies that left the fair with contracts in their luggage. "In the last two days alone, I received orders for the value of US$ 18,000," stated Rafael Lufiego, who represented the company at Inter Leather. Polako, a company specialized in injection moulds for shoe soles, did business of US$ 10,000.
Most of the Brazilian factories had, at the fair in Cairo, the opportunity to learn a little more about the Egyptian market. Those who did not sell found potential representatives in Egypt and forecast the closing of deals during next year.
To Carlos Demaret Carvalho, from Cipatex, a producer of linings and polyurethane shoe tops, Brazilian producers of shoe components and leather artefacts have good chances of competing on the Egyptian market as the country usually uses imported components in the production of shoes and artefacts. "We discovered that they prefer to use European components to Chinese ones, as they are considered low quality. For this reason, Brazilian products are very competitive on this market, as they offer the same quality as the European products, but lower prices," stated Carvalho.
He believes, however, that Brazilian companies should find representatives in Egypt. "It is important to have an Egyptian representative so he can prospect the market," he said. Cipatex found three potential representatives during their participation in the mission in Egypt.
The businessmen believe that the fair is also going to generate good business in future. "In the area of components for shoes and leather artefacts, mutual growth takes some time. The buyers, in general, first test our products. If they are satisfied, they place new orders," stated Martin Wagner, from FCC Fornecedora, which produces raw material for injection of shoe soles and leather soles. "I think that, due to the number of contacts made and taking into consideration the quality and price of our products, I believe that next year our company may close deals for the value of US$ 500,000 with Egyptian buyers," he said.
"This country is very important for us as it is strategically situated," stated Ângela Garofalo, from the export department at Linhanyl, a company that makes production lines for leather, shoes and artefacts. According to Ângela, the Egyptian market is also a good way to reach other African and Arab countries.
Linhanyl should also sell around US$ 30,000 in the next months due to three contracts made at the fair, according to Ângela. "The buyers showed great interest in our product. They all asked for samples. Many of them have already tested our product, returned saying it was excellent quality and have now proceeded to the next phase which is price negotiations, after that we will be able to go on to the phase of direct import," he said.
The Assintecal representative and consultant, Daniel Schnorr stated that there are perspectives for the Brazilians to sing a cooperation agreement in the area of shoe production with Egypt next year. "Brazil has technological availability to supply to the Egyptian market. For this reason, an accord between both countries should be signed in this respect next year," he explained. To him, the more qualified the Egyptian companies are in shoe production, the better will be the use of Brazilian components and the greater will be the search for them.
The companies were in Egypt up to yesterday (21). Tomorrow they will have activities scheduled in Nigeria, where they will be up to Friday (25). On the 28th, the group will travel to Tunisia and on the following days they will be in South Africa and Kenya. The mission ends on December 3.
*Translated by Mark Ament
