Dubai – Big 5, the largest building sector fair in the Middle East, which begins on Monday (25), in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, should generate good sales for Brazilian exhibitors. That is what the organizers and companies participating in the Brazilian pavilion expect.
“There has been great return to growth in the civil construction industry [in the Emirates], which is good for the Brazilian companies participating in the Big 5, regarding sales of products,” explained Marcelo Sallum, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president. “Real estate developers will certainly be present at the fair and will have the opportunity to contact Brazilian exhibitors,” he finished off. The Arab Chamber organizes participation alongside the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex).
“We hope to sell much,” said Antônio Valdinei da Rocha, Export and Import Manager at Universo Tintas, a company that is participating in the Big5 fair for the second time. The company is bringing to the event a hygienic line of paints, free of scent, focused on hospitals and hotels, and also a line for real-estate use.
Rocha explains that apart from prospecting new business, the event should allow the furthering of talks that had begun earlier. “We have two clients to approach here. They have both already been to Brazil,” he explained. Last year, the company managed to close deals with an Angolan company that visited Big 5, a fair that is visited by buyers from several countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Fernanda Manara, project manager at Apex, says that the return to growth of the building sector in the Emirates may generate sales to Brazilian companies. “The market is heated again. The tendency [for Brazilian companies] is to be more and more present at fairs,” she said.
The executive points to the ornamental stone sector as one of the most promising in the Arab market. “They like them much,” she said. “PBA Stones explored North America much and saw good possibilities in coming here,” said Manara, regarding one of the Brazilian companies present at the event for the first time.
This year, the Brazilian pavilion counts on six companies. Apart from those already mentioned, also present at the Big 5 will be Itagres, (ceramic tiles), Tramontina (sinks), Pettrus (ornamental stone) and BCF (PVC products). The Brazilian companies are in Zabeel Hall, close to the entrance to Hall 1. Big 5 will take place at the Dubai World Trade Center up to Thursday (28).
Opportunities for Brazil
On Sunday, some 100 Arab businessmen from several sectors participated in seminar Partner with Brazil, promoted by magazine Trade and Export, in partnership with the Arab Chamber. The objective of the event was to present the economic scenery in Brazil and business opportunities in the country.
“Brazil is a great player in the global arena. Bilateral relations with the Emirates have been growing much and we need to encourage investment [in Brazil],” pointed out Sallum at the event.
“We feel the doors are open for our companies,” said Mohd Lootah, deputy CEO at Dubai Export Development Corporation, regarding the business environment in Brazil. He explained to those present, however, that “entering the Brazilian Market requires studies about consumer preference,” and said he believes that Arab companies may use Brazil as a regional "hub" for Latin America.
Michel Alaby, CEO at the Arab Chamber, presented a panorama of the Brazilian market, with the main products exported and imported by the country. He also spoke about the services provided by the organisation and explained that starting next year Arab companies may also become associates at the institution. “We invite you all to become Chamber members,” he said.
The building and infrastructure sector was the highlight of talks. Ziad Hage, the executive director for Business Development in the Emirates at construction company Odebrech, pointed out the opportunities in Brazil in areas like energy, highways, airports, railways and others, totalling R$ 334 billion (US$ 146 billion).
Cecília Paetzelt, a Brazilian lawyer living in Dubai, spoke about the requirements necessary to open an office in Brazil. She informed those there that it is not necessary to have a Brazilian partner and that those investing over R$ 150.000 (US$ 66,000) in the country have the right to a permanent residence visa.
Also present at the seminar were Rubens Hannun, Foreign Trade vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Daniel Hannun and Sylvio Abdalla Jr., directors at the organisation, and congressman Ângelo Agnolin (PDT-TO), president of the Economic, Industry and Trade Development Commission at the Lower House.
*Translated by Mark Ament
