São Paulo – Businessmen from Mato Grosso interested in exporting to the Middle East and North Africa may participate in talk "Opportunities with the Arab Countries", in state capital Cuiabá, today (12), and in the city of Sinop, tomorrow (13). Presentations should be made by the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby. The meetings are promoted by the International Business Centre (CIN), of the Federation of Industries of the State of Mato Grosso (FIEMT).
During the event, presentations should include the economic characteristics of the Arab countries and commercial information. "They are essential subsidies for the definition of business strategies for the access to the Arab market," stated the coordinator of the CIN, Gabriela Fontes. "The food industry answered to over 60% of Brazilian exports to the Arabs over the last 10 years. Mato Grosso stands out as a potential supplier of food and the Arab countries are great consumers of sector products. However, it is possible to see a scenery of expansion of this trade," he added.
"In the city of Cuiabá we should have a presentation turned to negotiating with the Arab countries and the sectors where the main opportunities are. In Sinop, where the wood sector is the strongest, we are also going to talk about the study developed by the Arab Brazilian Chamber, last year, that show the growth of the civil construction sector in the Arab countries, which buy wood for building and furniture production," said Alaby.
According to him, despite the global crisis, the sector should remain as an option to close deals abroad. Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are the four main Arab buyers of wood. Last year, Brazilian exports of wood to the Arab countries grew 38% over 2007, rising from US$ 60.5 million to US$ 83.5 million.
"The promotion of this event at a moment in which the world is living a crisis is providential. Our traditional markets (the United States and Europe) are retracted and we need to seek new alternatives. As the export volume drops to some markets, this reduction may be absorbed by the Arab countries. In terms of building they are the centre of the world," said José Eduardo Pinto, president of the Union of Lumber Companies of the State of Mato Grosso (Sindusmade) and owner of the Madeiranit group.
The businessman participated in a trade mission to Dubai in 2008 and bets on the potential of the Arab market to increase exports of the wood sector in the state. "We have wood to offer and consumption there is high. We have great chances of closing deals," he said. Madeiranit exports to Europe, the United States, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the coordinator of the CIN, the promotion of an event that promotes the potential of the Arab countries is part of a project to bring both regions together. "Since 2007 we have already taken over 100 businessmen to participate in Canton Fair (a multisectorial fair in China), which always takes place in April and October, and we strategically spend two or three days in Dubai," he explained.
In the civil construction sector the businessmen visited Nakheel group, and in the hotel and tourism area, Burj Al Arab. They also visited the Business Centre of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and the Arab Brazilian Chamber as well as Jebel Ali port.
In April, the organisation should promote a new trade mission for participation in the Chinese fair with a stop in Dubai, on the 12th and 13th. This time, the trip should count on the support of the Mato Grosso state branch of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae/MT).
Among the main players
Last year, the state of Mato Grosso was the seventh in the list of 10 main Brazilian exporters to the League of Arab States. According to figures supplied by the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), exports by the state to the Arab market grew 118.3% over last year. They rose from US$ 187.09 million to US$ 408.32 million. The main products exported were meats, maize, soy oil, soy chaff, cotton, wood, sugar, beans and diamonds.
The year of 2009 began with great growth indices. In January, the state of Mato Grosso expanded shipments to the Arab market by 326.29% over the same period last year. Exports rose from US$ 13.73 million to US$ 58.53 million. In the first two months of the year they grew 207.89%, rising from US$ 26.39 million in the first months of 2008 to US$ 81.20 million in the same period in 2009. "This result is very positive and shows that Mato Grosso is going against the retraction in exports," pointed out Rafael Abdulmassih, Market Development analyst at the Arab Brazilian Chamber.
Businessmen from Mato Grosso are aware of the potential of Arab importers. Frigomarca group, which is headquartered in Rondonópolis, and owns slaughterhouses Pantanal and Tangaré, has been exporting beef to the Arabs for over 10 years. It has already sold to the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon and, mainly, Egypt. "Egypt is a strong market, which has already purchased 25% of the total exported by the group," stated Magno Ivo Bringehntti, who is responsible for foreign trade at the organisation.
"The markets are now getting adjusted, due to the lack of credit and little offer of beef, which caused prices to rise. Therefore Brazilian beef exporters are seeking new buyers. The Arab countries are an interesting and trustworthy alternative," he says.
Fair in Egypt
The businessmen to participate in the talks in Cuiabá and Sinop may also seek information about how to send catalogues and samples for free to Cairo International Fair, to take place from March 18th to 27th, in Egypt. The material should be exhibited at the Arab Brazilian Chamber stand. The fair offers business opportunities for companies in the agricultural, food, electric and electronic, textile, building material, handicraft and machinery and equipment sectors.
Egypt is one of the main importers among the Arab countries and is already one of the main destinations for Brazilian exports. The products most exported to the country are sugar, meats and iron ore. The building sector is also heated, with investment mainly focussed on the Gulf region.
Talks
In Cuiabá, the talk should be promoted at the offices of the FIEMT System, this evening, at 6:30 pm. In Sinop, in turn, the talk should be promoted at the offices of Sindusmade, at 5:00 pm. The seats are limited.
Further information may be obtained by e-mail cin@fiemt.com.br or through telephone numbers (+55 65) 3611-1565 (Cuiabá) and (+55 66) 3531-5900 (Sinop).
*Translated by Mark Ament
