Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Nine companies from the state of São Paulo are going to participate in the Hotel Show, the hotel sector fair in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. This is the result of a partnership between the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) and the Science, Technology, Development and Tourism Secretariat of the State of São Paulo.
The fair will take place between May 22 and 24 and the objective is to show products and sectors turned to hotels. "The fair is going to make it possible for some companies to export to the Arab countries and for others to increase their exports to this market," stated the Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade advisor at the secretariat, Aline Cardoso, who will be at the fair.
According to Aline, the companies are going to exhibit in an area of 72 square metres called São Paulo Space. "The objective of this space is to present companies from São Paulo state and the Brazilian brand," she said.
Among the main products to be exhibited at São Paulo Space are kitchen utensils, like plates, glasses and bowls, decoration products, industrial kitchens, glass projector screens, interior and swimming pool furniture, kits including shampoos, creams and bedroom slippers, chocolates and jams.
This edition of the fair will have 425 companies from 41 countries exhibiting. Last year, 306 companies from 33 countries exhibited. According to the official site of the fair, this is a record number of exhibitors. In 2004, the number of visitors reached 5,640, an increase of 14% when compared to the previous year.
According to the site, the growth in interest in the Arabian Gulf as a business and tourist centre is making the demand for professionals, products and services turned to the hotel sector rise. In Dubai alone, there are plans for construction of over 150 hotels in the nest five years. The number of visitors to the emirate should reach 15 million in 2005.
Exports from São Paulo
Last year, exports from the state of São Paulo to the Arab countries totalled US$ 1.7 billion, representing growth of 57% when compared to 2003. Of total Brazilian sales to the Arab world, almost half came from the state of São Paulo. In all, the state exported US$ 31 billion last year.
*Translated by Mark Ament
