São Paulo – Brazilian makers of medical products are interested in opening markets in Syria and plan to participate in the Healthcare fair, to be promoted in April, in Damascus. To learn more about the exhibition and the country, representatives of sector producers participated yesterday (22) in seminar “Business Opportunities in the Arab Countries – Medical-Hospital Sector”, promoted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in São Paulo.
“It is a very good market and they need medical and hospital equipment,” said Jaime Weiss, who is responsible for the Import and Export Department at Quimis, a maker of laboratory equipment. According to him, Quimis has already exported to Syria, but logistics difficulties hinder sales. “I came to seek support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber, maybe I’ll have success one of these days,” said Weiss.
The Brazilian stand at Healthcare should cover 114 square metres and may accommodate 12 companies. Producers will have the Arab Brazilian Chamber’s support at the event and in the sidelines. “We may schedule visits to hospitals, importers, local authorities,” stated the Market Development manager at the organisation, Rodrigo Solano.
According to him, the specialized hospital projects in Syria are evaluated at US$ 60 million. “There are many opportunities,” said Solano. Among the Brazilian products with the greatest opportunities for exports to the Arab country are orthopaedic devices, medication, X-ray equipment and hospital furniture.
Another company that has already exported to Syria and wants to return to sales is Edgrisa, a representative of medical, hospital and dentistry equipment. “Due to exchange rates, we lost competitiveness and stopped exporting. Now we want to restart sales,” said the person responsible for Edgrisa, Edson Grisanti.
According to the manager of the Foreign Trade Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Francisca Barros, Healthcare is a fair that has received a greater number of international exhibitors and visitation has been on the rise. “It is a very interesting fair, mainly due to the visitation,” she said.
Trading company Montex, from São José dos Campos, also participated in the seminar and said she is interested in participating in the fair. “We want to start exporting to the Arab market,” said representative Diaa Eldin Dawood.
The cost for participation in the fair, to go from April 15th to 18th, is 3,500 Brazilian reals (US$ 1,400) for a nine metre space with a chair, table and a receptionist at the stand. The Arab Brazilian Chamber has the support of the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Articles and Equipment (Abimo) and the Foreign Ministry of Brazil.
Further information
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Foreign Trade Department
Tel.: (+55 11) 3147-4115, with Nádia
E-mail: comex@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
