Arab pharma sector representatives met with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, Michel Alaby, at the organization’s headquarters, in São Paulo. This week they took part in matchmaking with Brazilian medicine manufacturers at the pharma industry fair CPhI South America, which will end this Thursday in the city of São Paulo. The importers claimed they were surprised by the quality and variety of Brazilian medicines and said they plan to import products from the country in the near future.
By the end of the matchmaking, Syrian Unipharma’s marketing manager, Rufaida Ghanoun, said that she made good contacts with Brazilian companies and that negotiations should continue with at least two companies within the next months.
Deputy general manager of the representative of medicine companies Ibn Hayyan & Mohdar, from Yemen, Osama M.H. Al-Kebsi said he came to Brazil in search of medication for several kinds of diseases. “The meetings were a great opportunity to learn more about the sector in Brazil, but Brazilian companies do not have much experience in Middle East yet. I believe we can keep in touch and proceed with negotiations and I hope to come here again other times,” he said.
Eight Arab companies partook in matchmaking at the trade fair CPhI. The representatives came to Brazil at the invitation of the Brazilian Pharma Chemical and Pharmaceutical Inputs Industry Association (Abiquifi), which fostered the meeting with Brazilian companies. At this project, the Abiquifi had the support of the Arab Chamber, which, in turn, has selected the companies and provided support to the visitors.
Arab Chamber’s CEO, Michel Alaby, said the businessmen participation in the matchmaking and at the fair may lead to “more effective actions” in the future. “It was a Buyer Project promoted alongside a trade fair. That means, besides knowing the products, they also had access to the companies and could see the sector’s potential in Brazil,” he said.
Alaby stated that the pharma sector negotiations are long as the products require the importing country’s regulatory agencies approval. Alaby noted that even this challenge may become an opportunity. “If the importing company is interested in the product, it can help the Brazilian company register these medications,” he said. Entering this sector’s market, he said, is a way to diversify Brazilian export portfolio. In 2013, the Arab countries imported a total of US$ 18.5 billion worth of medicine. From this amount, US$ 11.5 million were imported from Brazil.
Service
CPhI South America
Expo Center Norte
Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, Vila Guilherme, São Paulo, SP
From August 5th to 7th, until 8pm. The matchmaking rounds have already ended
For further information: http://www.cphi.com/south-america/home/ (in English)
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
