São Paulo – The Arab market remains an export target for the Brazilian medical and dental equipment industry. An agreement between the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Articles and Equipment (Abimo) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil) has been renewed this Thursday (27th) and provides for actions focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.
“We will keep attending the Arab Health and the AEEDC,” says Abimo export manager Paula Portugal regarding the hospital and dental industry fairs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “We will also have a Buyer Project in May, at the Hospitalar fair [in São Paulo], which will bring in buyers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco and Tunisia,” says the executive.
The Brazilian Health Devices project is designed to promote exports of hospital and dental products and its actions include the work of a commercial agent in Egypt.
“The agent works for two selected companies. His job is to open up new markets, provide technical assistance and do after-sales work,” says the manager. The local agent works for neonatal incubator manufacturer Odilef and lung ventilator company Magnamed.
Last year, the 160 companies participating in the Brazilian Health Devices sold a combined US$ 190 million to foreign countries. Of these, US$ 14.5 million concern sales to Arab countries.
“The Arab market has always been important to us, and they have proven to be loyal buyers. The project’s sales were up 7% between 2011 and 2013 and the Arabs have definitely helped,” Portugal explains.
Industry companies often engage in promotional actions that are not part of the project as well, such as the Erbil Fair, in Iraq, whose Brazilian stand is organized by Apex, the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Foreign Ministry. Last year, the Brazilian companies Magnamed and Fanem participated in the fair. The latter makes neonatal products, among others.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
