São Paulo – The Lebanese construction industry is “booming,” according the Brazilian ambassador to Beirut, Paulo Roberto Campos Tarrisse da Fontoura, and Brazilian companies will be able to showcase their products and solutions for the sector at Project Lebanon, the 16th International tional Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, due May 31st to June 4rd in the capital of the Arab country.
"During summer, tourists flood the country, there is a huge demand to be met," said the diplomat, referring to the need for hotel enterprises. He informed that last year, Lebanon received over 2 million visitors, a figure equivalent to 50% of the country’s population.
The ambassador stated that several Lebanese economic indicators are very good, such as the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the performance of the stock exchange and banks, but the building industry is one of the highlights. He said, for instance, that from the window of the embassy one can see 19 cranes operating. "A colleague of mine counted them the other day," he claimed.
Fontoura added that the country is a "safe haven" in the Middle East. Despite the political tension experienced early this year, stemming from a change of government, Lebanon has been left out of the wave of protests that hit several countries in the region, especially Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. "[The Lebanese] are settling [their impasses] through the institutional path," he said.
According to Rodolfo Ribeiro, the head of the commercial sector at the embassy in Beirut, the Brazilian booth at Project Lebanon will cover a 105 square-metre area. The participation is promoted by the embassy with support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
The trade show is promoted by the IFP Group, which organizes business events throughout the Middle East. In Brazil, the group is represented by the company Conceito Brazil. Last year, the fair featured 444 exhibitors from 25 different countries, according to the organizers.
Further information
Fairs and Tourism Division of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty)
Tel.: (+55 61) 3411-8960
Fax: (+55 61) 3411-8957
E-mail: dft@itamaraty.gov.br
Brazilian Embassy in Beirut
Tel.: +961 1 98-2158 / 61 / 63 / 65 / 67
Email: secom.beirute@braziltradenet.gov.br
Conceito Brazil
Camila Vieira
Tel. (+55 11) 3527-5000
Email: cvieira@conceitobrazil.com.br
Site: www.conceitobrazil.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum