Cairo – The international financial crisis is causing Arab importers, especially Egyptian ones, to seek new suppliers, among them Brazil. This phenomenon was clear yesterday (19) during Cairo International Fair, which has a stand set up by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
"Many businessmen who visited the Brazilian stand are Egyptian, Arab and from other countries, and they are used to visiting this kind of event in other capitals. I had already met several of them at other fairs, like the one in Khartoum [Sudan], and they all came to talk to us again to re-establish contact with Brazil," said the Foreign Trade assistant at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Hans Lazarte Lima.
According to him, the businessmen are seeking Brazil very much as an option to diversify product supply sources. "Apparently, many of these businessmen are trying to turn more to Brazil due to the economic crisis. We have noticed that many of them want new supply sources, as previous suppliers, for reasons connected to the economic crisis, can no longer supply their demand. They hope that in Brazil they may find better supply," added the Marketing assistant at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Karina Cassapula.
The idea is shared by businessman Amgad Allam, the president of Allam Company for Pharmaceutical Industry in Egypt. According to him, his company is greatly interested in importing chemical components for production of vaccine and medication for the treatment of cattle and poultry.
"We already import this kind of material from suppliers in Canada, France and China, and are seeking new suppliers, especially in Brazil," said Allam. According to him, his company are greatly interested in working with Brazil, as they know of the reality of the country, of the excellent work in the area of poultry and of the importance of the cattle herd.
"We have already tried to get in contact with several Brazilian companies in the field, whose sites we visited, but unfortunately none of them answered the e-mails we sent them," stated the businessman. According to him, his group does business of 10 million euros a year. "And all our purchase operations are paid on the spot. We do not buy on credit," he finished off.
*Translated by Mark Ament
