Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Franchel, a maker of cosmetics from the midwestern Brazilian state of Goiás, has established a joint venture with a company from Syria. The idea is to export Brazilian raw material for use in the production of beauty products in the Arab country. This was one of the results of the participation of nine Brazilian companies in Damascus International Fair, which ended yesterday (12). The Brazilian stand was organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB).
The Franchel export manager, Frankleen Rocha, travelled to the fair so as to establish a partnership in Syria. According to him, this is the fastest way of entering a market that has not yet been open to the import of completely finished beauty products.
Apart from the partnership, the Brazilian company also closed deals with businessmen from Iran and Venezuela. According to Rocha, the differential of Franchel products is the natural extracts of some plants like camomile, Brazil nuts, cupuassu, buriti palm and linseed. The company exports to six countries and around 40% of production is turned to the foreign market. Among the 200 products made by the company are lines of make-up, shampoo, conditioners, oils and body creams.
According to the CCAB marketing manager, Andréia Monteiro, who participated in the event, the businessmen present made positive contacts and each received about 100 visits. "Brazilian businessmen left the fair with great business perspectives. Some should soon nominate a local representative," she said.
Partnership
Apart from the business, the presence of the Brazilian delegation in Damascus generated a series of contacts in other sectors. Today (13), for example, CCAB director Sami Roumieh is going to sign a partnership between the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), which is going to permit the exchange of information with the Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA).
SANA was established in 1965. The agency has over 50 agreements for cooperation with Arab and foreign news agencies and has 370 employees. Of this total, 200 are journalists, being 16 international correspondents. The agency produces varied articles, about economy, science, technology and culture.
ANBA, in turn, was created by the CCAB in September 2003 with the objective of bringing closer and consolidating trade relations between Brazil and the Arab world. The content published on the site is reproduced by News Agencies in Brazil and abroad. The agency already has partnerships with Emirates News Agency, from the United Arab Emirates, Algérie Presse Service, from Algeria, Yemen News Agency, Kuwait News Agency, Agência Brasil, the official Brazilian government news agency, and with the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná, in southern Brazil.
Meetings
In the sidelines of the fair, on the weekend Roumieh met two Syrian ministers, Makram Obeid (Transportation) and Saadalla Agha Al Kalaa (Tourism). According to the CCAB director, Obeid showed great interest in learning more about the Brazilian transport infrastructure. "He showed his interest in importing Brazilian technology," stated Roumieh. They discussed the modernization and construction of airports, ports and of the subway in the Arab country. "I talked about Embraer aircraft and he also showed interest in learning more about them," he added.
With the Tourism minister, in turn, the importance of promoting Syria as a tourist destination for the Arab community living in Brazil was discussed. "We also discussed the possibility of attracting Syrian tourists to Brazil," stated Roumieh. According to him, the talks were open and productive.
Last week, Roumieh had already met the Syrian Finance minister, Amir Lutfi, and prime minister, Mohammed Naji Ottri.
*Translated by Mark Ament
