Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Contracts made by Brazilian and Arab businessmen during the Brazilian Furniture and High-end Decoration Accessory Fair, which ended yesterday (21) in São Paulo, should generate over US$ 8 million in business deals over the next 12 months. Around 15 Arab importers participated in the fair. "It was a very worthwhile fair, but we still have a lot of work ahead," stated Carlos Moreira, the director of the Brazilian High-End Furniture Manufacturers Association (Abimad) export consortium that focuses on the Middle East.
According to him, the main sales were made to importers from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine and Bahrain. "In all, deals were closed with 11 Brazilian companies," stated Moreira. The Arabs are after dining room and living room furniture, furniture for external areas, leather upholstered furniture and fabric for decoration accessories.
Moreira estimates that during the event the Arab businessmen made purchases of US$ 2 million. "They are testing Brazilian products," he said. To the executive, participation of importers was positive. "This year we are going to invest heavily in actions in the Arab countries," added Moreira.
Among the Arab businessmen were distributors, retailers and traders. To most, it was the first participation in a fair in Brazil, as was the case with the director of Palestinian company Modulus, Kandil Mahmoud, who was after leather and fabric upholstered products. The businessman, who closed deals with Brazilian companies, was interested in high-end furniture. "My target is clients with high buying power," he said.
The 11 Brazilian companies that executed sales to the Arabs were: Estofado Jardim, Niroflex, Formanova, Antica, Lintz, Century, Móveis Irimar, Estobel, Stone Design and Mac Design.
Good quality
According to Moreira, the Arabs compare the quality of Brazilian furniture to that of the Italian furniture. "Some said that the quality of the sofas and of some tables was better than that of Italian furniture," he said. Another point raised by the director was the mixture of the Brazilian design. "It is a mix that pleases everyone," he added.
Businessman Saber Sharafi, from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, went to the fair after leather sofas. "Brazilian leather is among the best," he said. To the project and tenders department manager at Jordanian company Midas, Ibrahim Abu Rayyan, Brazilian wood is also good quality. "The price of the Brazilian product is double that of the Chinese, but the quality is better," he said.
Over 80 importers
The invitation for Arab businessmen to participate in the fair in São Paulo was by the Abimad during Index, the largest fair in the furniture sector in the Middle East, which took place in December last year in Dubai, in the Emirates. A total of 87 importers from over 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas participated in the fair in São Paulo. The expenses of the group of foreign visitors were covered by the Abimad and by the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel).
On Thursday (16) and Friday (17), the Abimad organized business roundtables between the importers and 66 Brazilian companies. According to the head of the Foreign Relations department at the Abimad, Rafael Molon, the roundtables should generate US$ 30 million in deals over the next 12 months.
The fair, which was executed at the Imigrantes Exhibition Centre, counted on 160 exhibitors. This is the third time that the Abimad organizes the fair. The organization was established in 2003 and counts on over 180 associates.
*Translated by Mark Ament
