Dubai – In the current edition of the Big 5, a construction fair in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, Brazilian companies did more than just showcase their products and receive customers at their booths. This Tuesday morning (22nd), they had breakfast with importers, a promotion of DMG, the fair organizer, sponsored by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex).
And the meeting was attended by heavyweights, such as the Lebanon- based CCC, one of the leading contractors in the Middle East. “This is a very interesting event, a great showcase for building companies and an opportunity for [construction material] manufacturers to display their products,” said Khalid Khatib, the company’s senior technical manager.
The company operates in several countries and is a partner of the Brazilian Odebrecht for works in Libya, which have been suspended after the onset of the revolution that caused the ousting and death of dictator Muamar Kadafi. “We hope this joint venture will only be the beginning of our relationship,” said Khatib. The resumption of works in the North African country depends on the establishing of a new government-elect.
He claimed that generally speaking, the construction market has been affected by the European debt crisis, as investors are hesitant to put their money in highly ambitious projects right now. “Currently, the projects are more limited,” he said.
As a result, he said the market is very competitive right now, and so companies are forced to offer some sort of differential, competence- and expertise-wise, in order to stand above the crowd. “This applies not only to Dubai, but also to the rest of the world,” he said.
Another major enterprise which attended breakfast was Saudi Oger, a leading construction company in Saudi Arabia, currently the hottest market in the region. “The market has been hot for a few years now [rather than only now],” said Ehab Abou Taleb, a civil engineer with the company.
He added that several parties are investing in the Saudi construction industry, and that creates opportunities to material suppliers, including Brazilian ones. Taleb also said he has good expectations for the Big 5, which will continue until Thursday (24th).
Also attending breakfast was the architect Tariq Mirza, who manages a project of the Aga Khan University, in Karachi, Pakistan. He was interested in making contact with granite exporters.
Mirza spoke with the couple Marlucia and Luigi Martire, owners of the trading company ALM Brazil, which represents an ornamental rock mining company. He could have gotten in touch with other Brazilian companies as well, but Tropical Rocks, which was also going to bring granites to the fair, gave up exhibiting at the last minute.
Lucky for Marlucia, who wound up getting all the contacts. Over breakfast, she talked to people interested in importing granite, marble and wooden doors. She said importers complained a lot about the fact that only a few Brazilian companies are represented in Dubai. “At times they (the importers) need an easy way to get in touch [with suppliers],” said the businesswoman, who is considering setting up an office in the emirate.
At the meeting, presentations were given by the fair’s director, Andy White, the Arab Brazilian Chamber CEO, Michel Alaby, its operating director, Andreia Monteiro, and the Apex project manager, Anderson Dib. Also, a talk was given by Lewis Pugh, the first person to ever swim long distance in the North Pole.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
