São Paulo – More companies from Brazil joined the Brazilian stand at Khartoum International Fair on Wednesday (2), in Sudan. One of them is Irriger, a company from Minas Gerais that develops irrigation projects and already has operations in the African nation.
According to the Irriger manager in Sudan, Wulf Schmidt, the company recently developed a project for a state in the North of the country and presented proposals to other states. "We are awaiting their answer," said Schmidt. "We have many projects in sight," he added, pointing out that the company is also seeking business with private partners.
Irriger, according to the manager, hired a Sudanese engineer and plans to employ two more in the near future. The company hopes to come to the end of the year with six employees at its local office.
The Brazilian stand at the fair is organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and by the Itamaraty, through the Brazilian embassy in Khartoum. According to ambassador Antonio Carlos do Nascimento Pedro, the economy of Sudan has two "great axes": the oil and agriculture industries.
Apart from Irriger, another company connected to the agricultural sector that is participating in the fair is Jumil, from Batatais, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, which makes agricultural equipment. According to the company representative, Willian Caetano, Jumil has been selling to Sudan since 2008 and exported the equivalent to 2 million euros in seeders and harvesters to the country in 2009.
He believes that the presence of Brazilian producers in Sudan should aid in the trade of Brazilian machinery. Pinesso group is planting cotton and soy in the African country. According to Caetano, the Jumil forecast is to reach US$ 5 million in exports each year in up to five years.
Before the fair started the participation of three Brazilian companies had already been confirmed: Kepler Weber, a producer of silos, BRFoods, which owns the Sadia and Perdigão food brands, and Grendene, of shoes.
New technology
Apart from Irriger and Jumil, the stand also received Elivelton Almeida, who wants to take production of "ecological" bricks to Sudan, using earth and cement and with special fittings. The idea is to introduce into the country material and techniques for cheaper construction, appropriate for lower income populations.
Almeida said he plans to open a new technology institute in Sudan, alongside two colleagues, a Canadian and an Australian. He is at the fair to show his project and attract potential investors interested in development.
According to Arab Brazilian Chamber secretary general Michel Alaby, who is in Khartoum, the fair, which is at its 28th edition, includes 400 exhibitors from 13 countries. Although the opening to visitors took place on Wednesday, it should be open to the public on Thursday.
Ambassador Nascimento Pedro said that, among the Sudanese, there is great interest in Brazil and that great movement is expected at the fair. Despite the plebiscite in January, which practically stipulated the country separation into North and South, the diplomat said that the situation is peaceful. "The political and economic scenery shows signs of improvement," he said.
*Translated by Mark Ament