São Paulo – Not finding their products in the main sector fairs both domestically and internationally is practically impossible. Attentive and aware of opportunities, the artisans from Minas Gerais are gaining greater space in the international and domestic market. And that is not only due to the talent of Minas Gerais: there are, in the state, several initiatives for stimulation of entrepreneurial activity of professionals, with all necessary support to advance in business in the area.
The Institute and Centre for Training and Support to Entrepreneurs (Centro Cape) is one of the initiatives. Established in 1994, the non-governmental organisation offers courses and training to small-scale artisans, focussing on those that develop manual work. Regarding foreign sales, the service involves guidance and assistance to those interested in exporting.
"Handicraft from Minas Gerais is renowned worldwide," said the Export Coordinator at Centro Cape, Maria Luiza Cardoso Drumond. "We are here to help strengthen this work even further,” she said.
Among the activities to stimulate sales of producers from Minas Gerais abroad are the permanent showrooms in New Jersey, in the United States, and in Lisbon, Portugal. “As well as the shipping of our handicraft to fairs and exhibitions in the United States and Europe,” said Maria Luiza.
Up to now, products have already been sold to Germany, the United States, France, Portugal and Switzerland. According to the export coordinator at Centro Cape, there are plans to reach other markets, like the Arab nations. “Selling to the Arabs is an idea to be developed,” she said. “We still need to find a bridge for such, and we know that clients from that region like different products, with higher added value.”
Currently, around 50 artisans are benefited by Centro Cape activities. "Apart from direct gains with exports, being abroad expands the visibility, appreciates the image of entrepreneurs within the country and results in better structuring,” said Maria Luiza.
Many people to train
In the gubernatorial area, Minas Gerais is one of the few states in Brazil to have a Handicraft Superintendence. Established in 2003, the organisation’s objective is to create public policies for support, training, promotion and distribution of the work of local artisans.
"We also offer support to participation in fairs here and in other states of Brazil,” explained the Handicraft superintendent at the State Secretariat for Economic Development of Minas Gerais, Thiago Tomaz. "There are, on average, 20 events a year".
And why does handicraft from Minas deserve such promotion in the country and worldwide? "First of all, we are a large state, with 853 cities,” said Tomaz. "Not to mention our tradition of using material like ceramics, soapstone and natural fibre, among others.”
An exporter of costume jewellery and accessories made from plastic ceramics, businesswoman Camila Magalhães, from Incomun Arte, points towards other reasons for the success of the work of her land. “The best costume jewellery and jewellery design in Brazil is here,” she guarantees. "Our products, as a whole, are different, produced manually, which is greatly appreciated by foreigners,” she said. "The more manual, the better,” she said. And, from what it seems, the more manual, the more Minas too.
*Translated by Mark Ament
