Marina Sarruf*
marina.sarruf@anba.com.br
São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) have developed a new model of distribution centre in the United Arab Emirates. It is the Dubai Business Centre, located in Jebel Ali Free Zone. There, Brazilian businessmen are going to count on cargo movement, storage, redistribution, packing and commercial intelligence services.
"The objective of the centre is to foster business between Brazil and the countries of the Gulf, mainly," stated Arab Brazilian Chamber director Wladimir Rafik Freua. According to him, the centre brings several simplifiers in the area of logistics, reducing costs for businessmen. Another advantage is that companies may send products in containers and sell them in parts, as at the site there will be a team trained to do this kind of work and ship to buyers.
With the new model, Brazilian companies count on support in the elaboration of market studies and in the scheduling of visits to potential buyers and distributors. Apart from that, businessmen may count on the support of the operations manager at the centre, Fabiana Giuntini Giffoni, who lives in the Emirates. "The business centre makes available the entire environment that the company may need to develop activities on the Arab market," said Freua. The site counts on offices and further structure for businessmen.
As it is located in a free zone, the centre makes possible the establishment of a company without the need for a local partner and also grants tax breaks for a period of 50 years. According to Freua, the demand for Brazilian companies is being very good and expectations are for the centre to reach its objectives.
Trade license
Companies interested in operating in the Dubai Business Centre should get in contact with Fabiana, in Dubai, with the Arab Brazilian Chamber or with the Apex. It is necessary to obtain a trade license, which may be obtained with the support of the centre. Companies also need to present a business plan and some documents required by the local government.
Contacts
Dubai Business Centre
Person in Charge: Fabiana Giffoni
E-mail: cddubai@apexbrasil.com.br
Telephone: (+ 971 4) 883-8877 (GMT +3)
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Person in Charge: Carla Nabhan
E-mail: carla@ccab.org.br
Telephone: (+55 11) 3283-4066
Site: www.ccab.org.br
Apex-Brasil
Person in Charge: Jacy Braga
E-mail: jacy.braga@apexbrasil.com.br
Telephone: (+55 61) 3426-0202
*Translated by Mark Ament
