São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s fair calendar for this year brings three new opportunities for Brazilian companies to show their products in the Arab world. In the first half, the organisation is going to participate in Libya Build, in the building sector, in Libya, and in Food Arabia, in the food sector, in Saudi Arabia. In September, the organisation is going to participate in Sahara Expo, in Egypt, in the agricultural machinery and equipment sector.
Participation in the fairs is the result of a partnership between the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty). According to the secretary general at the organisation, Michel Alaby, the building sector in Libya, food sector in Saudi Arabia and agricultural equipment sector in Egypt are heated and offer great potential for Brazilian companies.
Libya Build, to take place from May 15th to 18th, in Tripoli, brings opportunities for construction companies, producers of building material, equipment and machinery and service providers, like engineers and architects. Last year, the fair had 624 exhibitor companies and over 18,000 visitors.
Over the last three years, Libya has received great investment in infrastructure. According to figures disclosed on the fair site, expenses in house building, roads and airports, from 2007 to 2011, totalled 125 billion dinars (US$ 100 billion). The same value should be invested over the next five years.
Still in May, from the 16th to the 19th, comes Food Arabia, in Jeddah, on the Saudi Red Sea coast. According to Alaby, Saudi Arabia is a country to which the Chamber is going to pay greater attention. "It is a growing market and demanding many products and services, mainly food," he said, adding that he hopes for more trade delegations and fair participation in the nation.
The main importer of Brazilian products in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia purchased the equivalent to US$ 2.7 billion in Brazilian products from January to November last year, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Chicken and beef, sugar and soy represented the lion’s share of business.
Sahara Expo, in turn, should take place from September 24th to 27th, in Cairo, and should replace Mactech, also in the area of capital goods. It is, however, more turned to the agricultural sector. Last year, the Arab Brazilian Chamber took three companies to Mactech and, according to Alaby, participation was very good. "There was very great demand for agricultural equipment and Sahara is more specific," he said.
Apart from these events, the Arab Brazilian Chamber should return to the fairs in Khartoum, Sudan, which is multisectorial and should be promoted from February 2nd to 9th; Djazagro, in the food sector, to take place in Algeria from April 12th to 15th, Healthcare, of products and medical equipments, from April 15th to 18th, in Syria, Erbil International Fair, which is multisectorial and should take place in Iraq, in October, and the Big 5 Show, in the building sector, in Dubai, from November 22nd to 25th.
Further information
Marketing Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber
Tel. (+55 11) 3283-4066
Site: www.ccab.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
