São Paulo – More than showing releases of the Brazilian medical sector, the Hospitalar Fair, to take place from May 22nd to 25th, at the Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo, should receive importers who may leave the event with equipment ordered. According to the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Articles and Equipment (Abimo), 53 Brazilian companies will try to sell their products to 21 buyers from 18 countries invited to participate in the 11th business roundtables, to take place in the sidelines of the fair.
Abimo forecasts that, during the business roundtables, deals of US$ 500,000 should be closed. However, in the 12 months following the event, deals should reach US$ 20 million. The business roundtables will be promoted through the Brazilian Health Devices project, coordinated by Abimo in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex). The roundtables should include buyers from South Africa, India, Indonesia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.
According to the Abimo market intelligence coordinator, Tarso Evangelista, the choice of six Arab and six Latin American countries was due to the export potential to these places. “Latin America is our main export market and the Middle East is the one that grows most. Brazil is seen as an important partner of several Arab countries, which are now diversifying. They are lacking in the sector and are now investing to supply their needs,” he said.
According to Evangelista, the Arab countries want to have in Brazilian producers an alternative to the Europeans. The Brazilian market is more adapted to government sales, while Europeans tend to supply private buyers. Among the medical and hospital products produced here and with the greatest demand in Arab countries are appliances (sterilizers, for example), prosthetics and dentistry products.
According to Abimo, the sector had revenues of R$ 10 billion (US$ 5 billion) in 2011. Last year, Brasil exported US$ 707 million, 12.5% more than in 2010. The main buyers in the period were the United States, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia. Evangelista estimates that exports may grow more this year thanks to appreciation of the dollar as against the Brazilian real. "This way, our product is more competitive,” he said.
Service
Hospitalar Fair will take place from May 22nd to 25th, from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at the Expo Center Norte pavilion (Av. José Bernardo Pinto, 333, Vila Guilherme). Further information at site http://www.hospitalar.com or through telephone number (+55 11) 3897 6199.
*Translated by Mark Ament
