São Paulo – Food Arabia, a trade show for foodstuffs, hotel products and catering, should kick off on Sunday (29th) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, counting on the participation of five Brazilian companies and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. For the first time, the event will include a Brazilian booth, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the Brazilian foreign ministry (Itamaraty).
The exhibiting companies from Brazil will be Energy, an exporter of sugar, ethanol, grain and vegetable oils; the Brazilian Halal Food Central (Cibal), which certifies halal foods (made in accordance with Islamic tradition); the Equatorial meat packing company, which sells beef; trading company ABN International, which sells products made from assai, energy drinks made from guaraná, natural juices and sugar; and Oxford Porcelanas, a manufacturer of tableware.
According to the Arab Brazilian Chamber CEO, Michel Alaby, aside from exhibiting at the fair, which will continue until June 1st, the group will attend a meeting at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and pay a visit to a unit of the Panda supermarket chain, which is among the largest in the country. “We want to expand our relations and the flow of information,” said Alaby of the meeting at the local chamber of commerce and industry.
During the trip, the executive is also going to attend meetings with the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, the capital of the Arab country.
Food is one of the most promising sectors in Saudi Arabia, because the country depends on imports to ensure its domestic supply. The country imports the equivalent of US$ 10 billion in foodstuffs each year.
Brazil is already a major supplier to the Saudi market. Last year, Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Arab country generated nearly US$ 2 billion, representing an increase of 31% over 2009. The main items shipped were poultry, beef, sugar, soy chaff and maize.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
