Isaura Daniel*
São Paulo – The Brazilian granite manufacturer, Emigran Granites, from the city of São João da Boa Vista, interior of the southeastern state of São Paulo, is interested in participating of the growth of the civil construction sector in Qatar. The company will exhibit its products at the Project Qatar 2005, international trade fair of technology, equipments, building materials and environment preservation, to take place in Doha, capital of the Arab country, between the 18th and 21st of September.
"Construction material is what Qatar needs the most at the moment," says the Brazilian ambassador in Doha, Sergio Caldas Mercador Abi-Sad. The government of Qatar will spend US$ 26 billion in public infrastructure works in the next five years. Project Qatar will be the exact opportunity for foreign suppliers to offer their products in the country. The exhibit will take place at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre.
Emigran Granites will participate at the fair in Qatar in partnership with a granite producer from the United States, called Global Granite. The North American company buys semi-manufactured granite, finishes it and then sells it in the international market. One of their suppliers is the Brazilian factory. "Global Granite sells a lot to the United Arab Emirates and invited us to participate in partnership at the fair in Qatar," explains the exports coordinator at Emigran Granites, Daniela Sibin.
Emigran has a production capacity of 10,000 square metres of granite per month and exports about 70% of the total manufactured. The United States is the greatest market abroad, representing 80% of exports. The company has buyers, however, in 30 countries, amongst them, the United Arab Emirates. According to Daniela, Emigran sells to a client in Abu Dhabi since 2002. Up to now, 15 tonnes of granite plates, or 5,000 square metres, have already been shipped to the emirate.
The company manufactures plates and also finished products such as long benches, tiles, sinks, tables and façades. The company works from the extraction to installing the products in the construction. Emigran buys the raw materials from outsourced companies, but also owns three extraction mines in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais (in the Southeast region of Brazil). The factory was founded in 1995 and is part of a larger group, Sibin, which is about 40 years old and owns other companies in the same sector. Emigran is one of the ten greatest granite exporters in the country.
Emigran is investing US$ 4.5 million in expanding its industrial capacity. The company is building two new factory units, one in São João da Boa Vista, where the head company is located, and another in the state of Espirito Santo, also in the Southeast of Brazil.
Contacts
Emigran Granites
Telephone: +55 (19) 3624-9814
Website: www.emigran.com.br
Project Qatar 2005
Telephone: +974 432-9900
Website: www.ifpqatar.com
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
