São Paulo – The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) and the o Non-Ferrous Metal Artefact Union of the State of São Paulo (Siamfesp) launched yesterday (13), in São Paulo, brand Metal Brasil. The objective is to expand the sector’s visibility on the foreign market and, consequently, to increase exports. The Arab market is among the targets of the project.
Currently, the Apex and Siamfesp Integrated Sectorial Project (PSI) includes the participation of 51 companies. “We want to attract more companies to the project, not just from São Paulo, but from Brazil as a whole," said the president at the union, Denis Perez Martins. According to him, the organisation has already participated twice in the Big 5 Show, in the building sector, in Dubai, and companies in the sector hope to participate again this year. "It is a promising market," he said.
With the release of Metal Brasil, Apex and the Siamfesp have renewed the agreement for promotion of sector exports, which began in 2007. The new project, to be extended from 2010 to 2012, should receive investment of 1.21 million Brazilian reals (US$ 701 million). According to the business director at the Apex, Maurício Borges, investment should be turned to participation in international fairs, marketing actions and advertising and promotion of buyer, image and seller projects.
Last year, sector exports exceeded US$ 37 million. With the new project, the target is to reach 2012 with sales of US$ 42 million and to increase the number of exporters from 32 to 38. “It will be very easy to position ourselves on the market with brand Metal Brasil," said Borges. According to him, companies in the sector have “taken on the cause” of innovation and of different design. "I have no doubt that we are going to make all the difference," he added.
The brand symbol, in yellow and blue, two of the colours of the Brazilian flag, was developed by design company Keenwork. A portal is also being established, containing information about the project, the sector, events and company catalogues. Site www.metalbrasil.com.br, to have versions in Portuguese, English and Spanish, should go on air in late November.
According to the executive director at Siamfesp, Oduwaldo Alvaro, the Metal Brasil brand should also include the Brazilian association in the sector, a very important reference for the foreign market.
*Translated by Mark Ament
