Marina Sarruf*
marina.sarruf@anba.com.br
São Paulo – Egyptian company Ameco Medical Industries, a maker of dialysis, central venous and urology catheters, is interested in opening a commercial office in São Paulo. The company started exporting to Brazil last year after participation in the Hospitalar, the largest health sector fair in Latin America. This year, Ameco has returned for the 14th edition of the event, which began yesterday (12), in São Paulo.
“We already have a distributor in Brazil, now we must organize how our products will be distributed," stated the export manager at Ameco, Mohamed Basiony. According to him, it is necessary to discuss whether Egyptian products will be distributed with the Egyptian or Brazilian brand. "Each company works in one way," he added.
Last year, Ameco exports to Brazil totalled US$ 20,000. “It is a beginning," stated Basiony. With the opening of the office, the manager believes that the contacts with Brazilian companies and sales will be simplified. The Egyptian company already exports to over 20 countries, like the United States, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, as well as Arab and European countries.
Another Ameco idea is to establish a partnership with a large-sized Brazilian company, like one recently formed with a branch of Japanese company Terumo, in Germany. "Terumo is the main producer of disposable medical and hospital equipment in the world," stated Basiony. The Egyptian company produces the catheters in the Arab country and exports to Terumo Germany, which distributes to the whole of the European continent.
Ameco supplies 90% of the Egyptian market and exports around 80% of its production. "It is important to point out that we do not make copies of products, we create them. That is our differential," stated Basiony.
Another Egyptian company that is also exhibiting at Hospitalar and is interested in establishing a partnership with a Brazilian company is Euromed, a maker of products for anaesthetic and surgery. “We do not yet export to Brazil, but we are eyeing this market, as we believe that it offers great chances. We have competitive prices and quality," stated the company vice president, Wael Reda Abdou, who also participated in the fair last year.
According to him, the company has two objectives at the fair: finding a new distributor and developing a joint venture for the exchange of technology. "The idea is to begin making the product in Brazil and to finish it in Egypt, or vice versa," stated Abdou. According to him, the company already works this way in Europe. “It is a more stable deal and would be great business," he finished off.
Egyptian stand
This is the second time that the Hospitalar counts on an Egyptian stand. In total, five companies that are makers of bandages, dressings, syringes, oxygen masks, catheters, tubes and other disposable products for medical and laboratory use are being exhibited at the fair. They are being sponsored by the Egyptian Exporters Association (Expolink) and by the Centre for Industrial Modernization, an agency for promotion of Egyptian industry financed by the European Union.
According to the Egyptian ambassador to Brasília, Mohamed Abdallah, the Egyptian companies participating in Hospitalar are all large. “Participation of Egyptian companies at the fair contributed to the promotion of exports from Egypt to Brazil. Our products are very competitive on the Brazilian market. They have good quality and prices, so much so that they are already being exported here," he said.
According to the ambassador, Egypt was “far” from Brazil in commercial terms for a long time and is currently returning to greater participation in the market. “Egypt does not only have medical products to supply to Brazil, but we also have good granite and textile products," he said.
The second Egyptian participation in the fair also called the attention of Hospitalar president Waleska Santos. “The multiplication of countries present at the fair, including the Egyptians, adds value to the greatest sector fair and shows that the event is really international," he said.
Waleska recalled that the first time that the Egyptians came to the fair, three editions ago, they participated just as visitors. "With the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, they came to prospect the market at the fair. Now they are already exporting," he finished off.
Opening
The Hospitalar, which ends on Friday (15), at Expo Center Norte, was opened by various authorities, including Health minister José Gomes Temporão, and the governor of the state of São Paulo, José Serra, among other guests.
The participation of 1,000 exporters from 30 countries called the attention of the minister, who said it is easy to notice the potential and the riches of the health sector in Brazil at an event like the Hospitalar. The governor also praised the potential of the fair and stated that the event shows the effort of Brazilian industry, as 70% of the exporters are from Brazil.
Service
Hospitalar
Date: June 12 to 15
Time: From 12:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Site: Expo Center Norte Pavilion
Address: Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333 – Vila Guilherme – São Paulo
*Translated by Mark Ament
