Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) is going to increase participation in fairs in the Arab countries in 2005. In all, the organization is going to be present in 15 events, against five in 2004. There will be 12 trade fairs and three events turned to the tourism sector. The objective is to increase bilateral trade between Brazil and the 22 Arab countries, which should reach US$ 8 billion up to the end of 2004.
The president of the CCAB, Paulo Sérgio Atallah, stated that apart from returning to events that are already included in the traditional fair calendar, such as Cairo International Fair (multisector), in Egypt, and Index (furniture) and Big 5 (civil construction), both in Dubai, the organization is going to enter new countries and sectors next year.
“As Brazil is increasing export to various of these countries, each of these fairs has its importance. We are, for example, going to participate in a fair in Morocco turned to the food technology sector, two in Saudi Arabia, turned to the auto parts and hospital equipment sectors, and one in Beirut, in the hotel management sector,” he said.
According to Atallah, the CCAB is also going to send a representative to Tripoli International Fair, a multisector event to take place in Libya between April 2 and 12 2005. “We are not going to have a stand at the fair, but we are going to send an observer to learn about the opportunities and establish contacts,” he said.
Agreements
And so as to stimulate promotion of Brazil as a tourist destination in some of the Arab countries, the Chamber is going to sign agreements with the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur) and with the Tourism Ministry up to the end of the year. Among the tourist events forecasted for 2005 are Global Village, a festival organized in the shape of a village where each country presents its culture (cuisine, dances, etc.), which takes place in parallel to Dubai Shopping Festival.
Also in Dubai, the organization intends to participate in the Arabian Travel Market fair, one of the largest tourism fairs in the Middle East, for the first time. And finally, a third project is going to be called “Brazilian Caravan” and will have the objective of bringing Arab tourism agents to the country throughout next year.
According to Atallah, the agreement between the Chamber and the Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade Ministry, which is already five years old, will also be renewed up to the end of 2004. “This is the agreement with the Apex (the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency) which will once again be our partner during international trade fairs,” he explained.
Balance
According to Atallah, no method for measuring the success of trade between Brazil and the Arabs is more efficient than analysing the bilateral trade figures. Between January and October, Brazilian exports to the Arab countries have totalled US$ 3.350 billion, against US$ 2.213 billion in the same period last year, representing a growth of 51%. With regard to imports, they have reached US$ 3.324 billion.
Up to the end of the year, Brazilian exports to the Arab countries should reach US$ 4 billion. The previous forecast was that exports should reach US$ 3.6 billion. Product imports from the Arab countries should reach a similar level, generating bilateral trade of US$ 8 billion up to the end of the year.
If this figure is confirmed, it will represent an increase of 50% in comparison to the 2003 total. According to Atallah, trade between Brazil and the Arab countries should soon reach US$ 10 billion, the target stipulated for 2006.
Companies interested in information about participation in international fairs in the Arab country should get in contact with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce marketing department.
Service
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB)
Marketing Department
Telephone: (+55 11) 3283-4066
E-mail: marketing@ccab.org.br
