From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – The musical instrument industry in Brazil wants to increase its exports by 20% this year. According to projections of the National Association of Manufacturers of Musical and Audio Instruments (Anafima) and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), which maintain a joint programme for encouraging exports, factories in the segment should post US$ 14 million in revenues from foreign sales this year. Last year, revenues totalled around US$ 11 million.
The actions of Apex and Anfima should help the sector expand its foreign sales. The project forecasts investments of US$ 3.2 million for the next two years. The aim is to increase the number of exporter companies from the existing 38 to 46, in the first twelve months, and then to 52 in the following year. A group of 39 companies is going to participate in the export programme. They are expected to generate a 10% increase in the number of job positions. Presently, the 30 factories are responsible for 1,390 jobs.
Companies in the segment are enthused about the possibility of selling more to foreign countries. RMV, a maker of percussion instruments and drum kits in the market for 35 years, aims to raise its exports up from US$ 1 million, in 2007, to US$ 1.7 million this year. The company has already managed to expand its sales, even in the face of the depreciation of the dollar against the real (the Brazilian currency). "We began manufacturing lower-cost products, in order to cater to other markets, such as Poland, Russia and other Eastern European countries," said the director at the company, Anselmo Rampazzo, who is also the president at Anafima.
Founded in 1975, Sabra Som exports to countries such as Portugal, Japan, Germany, Canada and Italy. The company manufactures microphone supports for stereo recording and has exported for 11 years now. As well as RMV, it is part of the project of the Apex and Anafima. Last year, the company posted revenues of US$ 300,000 from exports. The company owner, Liza Winter, claims that the company benefits from working with products specifically designed for the microphone market. "In the global market, only those that have different inventions will survive. Our products attract attention at trade fairs," says the businesswoman.
MRV and Sabra Som, alongside eight other companies, are going to participate in the Musikmesse, a trade fair for the sector to be held from March 12th to 15th in Frankfurt, Germany. The participation in the show is one of the actions in the programme by the Apex and Anafima.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
