Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – Algiers International Fair, between June 2 and 10, in the Algerian capital, represents an opportunity for Brazil to consolidate and increase participation in Algerian import.
The forecast is that the North African country should purchase the equivalent to US$ 21.1 billion from international suppliers, against the US$ 16.5 billion in 2003.
The event will cover an area of over 1 million square metres and exhibitors from approximately 30 countries will be present.
As it is a multi-sector fair, product and service companies in the areas of transport equipment, auto parts, agricultural machinery, civil construction, construction material, medical, hospital and dentistry equipment, food, machinery and tools, commercial and financial automation, shoes, wood and furniture, cattle beef, among others, are welcome.
The Brazilian stand, to cover an area of approximately 100 square metres, will be organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) and by the Foreign Relations Ministry. Up to 10 Brazilian companies in the most varied of sectors will be able to participate. Enrolment is free and should be done by May 14 (contact below).
Opportunities
"This is a fair in which the Chamber has been participating for at least five years. It brings good opportunities, therefore we must continue," stated CCAB director general Michel Alaby.
According to him, Algeria recently promoted the opening of tenders in sectors like civil construction and telecommunications. "Algeria presents a great demand for products and services. I even followed a Brazilian civil construction company that showed interest in participating in tenders there," he stated.
In the 2003 edition, which included the participation of 22 countries, the Brazilian stand included 12 companies that sent catalogues and samples, or were present. "Algeria was chosen because it presents the largest trade deficit between Brazil and any of the Arab countries, almost US$ 1 billion," pointed out Alaby.
Trade balance
Last year, total trade (import and export) between Algeria and Brazil totalled US$ 1.267 billion. In all, Brazil exported US$ 153.7 million and imported US$ 1.1 billion.
Currently the main Brazilian product exported to Algeria is wheat, sugar, aluminium wire, cattle beef, highway tractors, and whole powdered milk.
It is worthwhile recalling that in the first quarter of this year there were expressive increases in export to Algeria. From January to March 2004 Brazilian sales totalled US$ 63 million, against US$ 25.2 million registered in the first three months of 2003.
The main item in the trade basket is wheat, a product the country only started exporting at the end of last year. The grain totalled US$ 25.5 million in sales to Algeria in the first quarter of 2004.
Even so, Algerian product import to Brazil is still much larger. In the first months of 2004 they reached US$ 464.4 million. The main products imported by Brazil were petroleum, naphtha, calcium phosphates, and mercury.
Contact
CCAB
Marketing department
Tel: (+5511) 3283-4066
e-mail: marketing@ccab.org.br
