Alexandre Rocha
São Paulo – On the first day of Algiers International Fair, on Wednesday (02), some of the Brazilian companies present at the stand organized by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) and the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), have already closed deals, informed CCAB secretary general Michel Alaby, who was at the Algerian capital.
Frigorífico Minerva, for example, received two export orders, each for 20 containers of cattle beef, a deal of around US$ 1.4 million. Company Sermáquinas Industriais, which produces equipment for food production and confection, closed a contract for the sale of two sets of machinery for production of chips, for the value of US$ 200,000.
In the first day of the event, Brazilian companies made around 70 commercial contacts. Apart from the 10 companies that sent Brazilian representatives to the event, other companies joined the group in Algiers, taken by the Brazilian embassy in the capital of the Arab country. Among them Randon, which produces trailers, Massey Ferguson, which produces agricultural machinery, and Tigre, which makes pipes and connections.
President
The fair opening ceremony included the presence of Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who visited the Brazilian stand together with country Trade minister Noureddine Bokhrou. In name of the CCAB, Alaby delivered a commemorative plaque to him.
"The president made a long visit to the stand, around 15 minutes, and stated that it was a pleasure to have Brazil at the fair again, and with a greater number of companies than last year," stated Alaby by telephone to ANBA.
Adding the 10 Brazilian companies that sent representatives to the fair, others that sent catalogues, and those taken by the embassy, 18 companies are exhibiting at the Brazilian stand, against 13 in 2003.
Trade mission
Before the event opening ceremony, the CCAB representatives met Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Caci) director general Mohamed Chami to sign an agreement for creation of the Brazil Algeria Business Council.
According to Alaby, Caci intends to promote a trade mission to Brazil at the end of July, or the beginning of August. The mission will probably be led by a minister of state (Foreign Relations or Trade). The idea is to visit the southeastern cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and country capital Brasília (in the Midwest). The mission will then head on to Argentina and Chile.
"According to Mr Chami there is great potential for Brazil to export agricultural machinery, machinery for tooling, packaging machinery, other machinery, tractors, agricultural implements, medical, hospital, dentistry, and surgery equipment, auto parts, and small vehicles," stated Alaby.
The CCAB secretary general also stated that Volkswagen Brazil has just delivered 250 units of their Gol hatchback model to Algeria. "The fleet of vehicles of different brands (French, German, Korean, and Japanese) is between 3 and 4 million, with an average age span of six years. There is a great market for popular cars," he added.
Information supplied by news agency Algérie Presse Service shows that a total of 1,100 companies from 32 countries are present at the fair, which will go on to June 10. Apart from that, 453 Algerian companies, 339 private, are also participating in the event.
