São Paulo – Five Brazilian companies are going to participate in the 30th edition of Khartoum International Fair, in Sudan, to be promoted from the 14th to 21st. They should present their products at the booth organized in partnership between the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty). The exhibitors are NSO Borrachas, trading company Montex, hospital product maker Fanem, construction company Andrade Gutierrez and agricultural machinery producer Colombo.
Apart from exporting products, Brazilians will visit local companies. Visits that have already been scheduled are to Kenana Sugar Company, which produces ethanol, sugar and their products, Dal Group, a conglomerate that operates in the sectors of food, education, medical services, agriculture and real estate, vehicle maker Giad Motor Co and Byblos Bank. For the Brazilian companies, the event is a good moment, mainly to seek new partners.
The export manager at Fanem, José Flosi, stated that the company has had a representative in Sudan for two years and that sales to the country are good. He said that there is a chance to increase earnings. “It is not a bad market. It is a relatively large country, with good growth expectations, it has oil and needs to improve its health system, and that is good for us,” said Flosi, who should present the line of neonatal equipment during the event.
Apart from the chance to sell more, Flosi believes that there are chances to win new clients. “We participated in a fair in Syria once, in a project organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and we had good results. I believe that this should happen again, as the Arab Brazilian Chamber schedules visits to hospitals and clients who may be interesting to us. Apart from that, authorities visit the fair,” he said.
Also betting on the fair for good business is the sales executive of trading company Montex, Diaa Dawood. During the fair, the company should present mobile units – rooms and stands set up temporarily at events.
“We have clients in Sudan and meet them frequently, but when we participate in a fair, in one week we can meet more people, more clients, than during a prospecting trip. The fair allows us to make many contacts over a short period of time,” he said.
Long run
The administrative and commercial director at NSO Borrachas, Karla de Mello Kalef, stated that the company is investing in Sudan, but recognizes that the fruit should come in the long run. The company participated in Khartoum Fair for the first time in 2012. At that event, they made contact with potential clients, but no deals were closed. This time round, it is returning with products and samples.
“Going there just once does not solve anything, as we must win them. Sudan has a promising market, as it needs everything. I think that it is necessary to be patient, to win their confidence. I believe that results should take between four and five years,” she said. Among the products that Kalef is going to take are automotive hoses and rubber flooring.
The CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, stated that Sudan offers good business opportunities. “It is a completely new world which offers many opportunities for the machinery, equipment and replacement parts sectors, both for machinery and for vehicles,” he exemplified.
*Translated by Mark Ament
