São Paulo – The first day of business matchmaking rounds at the Hospitalar fair, in São Paulo, enabled US$ 3.5 million worth of potential sales over the 12 months to come. The estimate was made by the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Articles and Equipment (Abimo).
According to the association, deals worth up to US$ 20 million may go through between Brazilian manufacturers and foreign buyers in the 12 months following the matchmaking rounds. Sales during the three days of meetings between exporters and importers are expected to reach US$ 500,000.
According to Abimo’s international projects manager Paula Portugal, all of the importers brought to the event engaged in several negotiations during the day. Still, Arab importers were in demand the most in the 192 meetings this Tuesday (22nd) at Expo Center Norte.
”The US$ 3.5 million sales perspective is split among different countries, clients, and product categories, but Arabs had no idle time whatsoever during the matchmaking rounds. They were the most sought after,” said Portugal. She said the Arabs have contacted Brazilian manufacturers seeking certain items as well.
The matchmaking rounds will continue until next Thursday (24th) from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Promoted as a part of the Brazilian Health Devices (BHD) project, the rounds are coordinated by the Abimo in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex). This is the 11th matchmaking round session under the project, involving importers from South Africa, India, Indonesia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.
In 2011, the Brazilian medical and hospital sector posted 10 billion reals (US$ 4.9 billion) in revenues and exported US$ 707 million, up 12.5% over 2010. Of those, according to the Abimo, Middle East and North Africa countries accounted for US$ 57 million. The main importing countries in these regions were Iran, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, in that order.
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The Hospitalar fair will run from May 22 to 25, from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Pavilion at Expo Center Norte (Av. José Bernardo Pinto, 333, Vila Guilherme). For further information go to http://www.hospitalar.com or call (+55 11) 3897 6199.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
