The president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), Antonio Sarkis Jr., presented yesterday, to businessmen from Minas Gerais, a state in southeastern Brazil, the sectors in which the Arabs are potential suppliers, among them cotton, fertilizers, gum Arabic and food products, like sardines. The secretary general of the organization, Michel Alaby, was in charge of showing economic figures about the 14 Arab countries that have diplomatic representation in Brazil.
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The southeastern Brazilian state currently has 130 companies that export to the Arabs, but they want to expand this figure promoting missions to the Middle East. This information was provided yesterday by the president of the Fiemg, Robson Braga, during a meeting with Arab ambassadors who live in Brazil. They are in Belo Horizonte, the state capital, to learn about the economic potential of Minas Gerais. Yesterday they met authorities from the state like governor Aécio Neves and the mayor of Bel
The delegation, to be led by the Palestinian ambassador and dean of the Arab Ambassadors Council, Musa Odeh, is going to participate in meetings – today and tomorrow (16) – with authorities and local businessmen – especially exporters -, and visit companies installed in the region. Antonio Sarkis Jr., president of the CCAB, will present the figures of trade between Brazil and the Arab countries at a talk tomorrow.
Company Café Iguaçu has established a joint venture with Seda Solubles, from Spain, and is going to invest 15 million euros in the installation of a new factory. The plant will be in the Spanish city of Palência and is going to produce a yearly 4,000 tonnes of soluble freeze-dried coffee, with greater added value. The company exports to around 40 countries, among them Tunisia and Lebanon.
The market in the Middle East represents 50% of exports by the furniture producer from Paraná. The company, however, wants to increase this level. The main products traded in the region are telephone and centre tables, apart from racks for televisions, sound systems and computers.
Company Bottero, from the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, is selling shoes to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The summer line – which includes clogs and sandals – is the most sought by consumers who are, in general, young. In 2004, the factory exported the equivalent to US$ 150,000 to the region.
Company Edlo, from the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, is researching the Arab market. The first contacts will take place this year, after a fair in Dubai. A client from Egypt has already received haemostatic clips made by the company, used in various kinds of surgeries.
The participation of Brazilian companies in the World Congress for the sector, to take place in September, in Dubai, may be the starting push for foreign sales. Producers are betting on the market in the United Arab Emirates as a potential destination. The country is the largest per capita consumer of bottled water in the world, at 265 litres per year.
The company, which is participating in the stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce at the fair, has already closed business deals with five Algerian importers. Agri-Tillage, a producer of agricultural equipment, is going to select a representative for company products in the region after contacts made in Algiers. The fair will go on up to Thursday.
Yesterday, Abdelaziz Bouteflika officially opened the 38th edition of Algiers International Fair. He commented on the increase in the area of the Brazilian stand this year and on the greater number of Brazilian companies. This year, nine companies are present. The show will be opened to the public today (03) and will go on up to Thursday (09).
The fair, turned to the medical, hospital and dentistry equipment and products ended today (02) in Saudi Arabia. Brazilian company Hospimetal presented a hospital bed at the fair.
Company Amsted Maxion has been exporting railway parts to the Arab country for the last ten years. The wheels are made of cast iron and resist to the desert environment of the Sahara. The company also produces railway cars. This year they should produce around 6,000 units.
Menendez Amerino, the largest Brazilian cigar producer, is exporting its products to Lebanon. Last year, sales totalled US$ 28,000. In years to come, exports to another four Arab countries are forecasted, among them the United Arab Emirates.
