Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – Two important Saudi businessmen, Saad A. Almugren, president of Ithmar Trading Est., and Ali Al-Felij, general manager of Skop Group, both from the city of Riyadh, visited the Brazilian stand at Cairo International Fair yesterday (18), during the second day of the 37th edition of the event, to go on until March 26.
The secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), Michel Alaby, pointed out the importance of the contacts made with the Saudi businessmen. These companies can generate great business for various sectors of the Brazilian economy. According to Alaby, Ithmar Traiding operates in civil construction, electric material, and furniture. Skop Group, which owns a large chain of stores, is interested in consumer goods, such as shoes and cosmetics, and food, such as fruit, sweets, candies, and vegetable protein from soy.
"These were undoubtedly the best contacts of the day," he guaranteed. According to Alaby, movement at the Brazilian stand, compared to the first day, was even more intense. "I believe that the Brazilian businessmen who are at the Chamber stand have already made, together, at least 70 contacts," he evaluated.
Tigre
Daniel Kley, international operator in charge of Africa at company Tigre, participating in the Cairo International Fair for the first time, stated that the contacts are useful for prospecting the Egyptian market. "This is a unique opportunity to get to know the region," he stated.
According to Kley, around 30 companies have shown interest in Tigre products. However, as the company does not make spot sales (only once), working only in continuous planned business, around 10 "good contacts" were considered.
Tigre S. A., established in 1941 in the city of Joinvile (in the southern state of Santa Catarina), currently controls 60% of the domestic PVC pipe and connections market. The company also makes other products, such as doors, windows, electric cables, and paint brushes for house painting, especially for the foreign market.
"We already have operations in Arab countries (in North Africa) like Algeria, Morocco, Libya (still in negotiation), and Egypt. Our interest is now in more aggressive sales to strengthen the Tigre brand on the foreign market," he explained.
Opportunities in 80 countries
The 2003 Cairo International Fair has exhibitors from around 60 countries, among them Brazil, Germany, Holland, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and the United States, totalling 4,000 Egyptian and 2,000 foreign companies, reaching a public of over one million people.
In the 2004 edition, 80 countries will be present. The fair grounds cover an area of 412,000 square meters. The 37th edition of the event brings together over 5,000 exhibitors from the industrial and agricultural sectors.
The Egyptian government has put into operation a policy of economic opening that favours foreign trade. The company has recently created various incentives aimed at development of the domestic industry, representing a great opportunity for Brazilian export. The country is currently the third largest importer of Brazilian products in the Arab world.
