São Paulo – Food industry companies from Palestine and Egypt are now São Paulo seeking distributors and buyers for their products. They are negotiating olive oil, dates, sweets and spices in the 15th edition of Food Ingredients South America (Fisa), a trade fair that began today (21st) and will continue until Thursday (23rd) at the Expo Center Norte exhibition centre.
The Al’Ard company is seeking a distributor to be the reseller of its olive oil in Brazil. Ziad Anabtawi, the company’s president and CEO, claimed that he has come to the country attracted by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s address during his visit to Palestine this year. According to the executive, Lula stated that the country is interested in importing from Palestine, so he decided to attend the event in São Paulo for the first time.
He claims that he visited restaurants and supermarkets in the capital of São Paulo and noticed that the city has a high rate of consumption of the product. Anabtawi highlights the quality of Palestinian olive oil as its differential.
"Palestinian olive oil is known worldwide for its high quality and its very striking aroma. It is ‘premium’ and organic by nature. Farmers grow the product the traditional way. They do not irrigate the olive trees, [irrigation] comes from rainwater and we do not use any chemicals," he explains.
Aside from olive oil, Al’Ard also makes soy, maize and sunflower oil. Some of the soy, by the way, is purchased from Brazil. "We are also here to get to know more about Brazilian suppliers and check whether it is possible to import maize grain as well," says the executive. He is also considering importing sugar and beef.
In 2011, the company, which is based in Nablus, in the West Bank, should produce up to 500 tonnes of olive oil. Al’Ard’s total output is of approximately 13,000 tonnes of oil per year. Its exports, however, are modest for the time being. Last year, the enterprise exported approximately 150 tonnes of oil.
The Ramallah-based Sinokrot company has come to Brazil to offer sweets, pickles and dates. "Brazil is a market in which some of our products are not available yet, such as special types of dates and some similar items, as well as olive and cucumber pickles," says Muhsen Sinokrot, the company’s export director.
Sinokrot wants to find a partner in Brazil, which may be either a distributor or a direct buyer. The company already exports its products to other countries in the Middle East, United States and Europe. With an output of 1,000 tonnes of sweets per year, including chocolates, biscuits and others, the company only exports 5% of its products. Specific exports of pickles reach 20%, and the dates are produced for the foreign market only. The two Palestinian companies are participating in the fair with support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations.
The Egyptian company Giza Seeds & Herbs wants to offer its spices, herbs and seeds on the Brazilian market. "We have brought basil, marjoram, fennel, coriander, mint, chamomile and pot marigold," says Youssif Tawfik, the company’s Sales and Export vice president.
Giza already exports to Brazil, but is seeking new clients. "We are looking for manufacturers and importers who may use our products," says Tawfik. According to him, the company exports approximately 100 tonnes of its products to Brazil each year, which accounts for less than 5% of its sales. The company’s entire production is export-oriented.
"We want our sales to Brazil to reach 10% of total sales, and we also want to grow in South America as a whole," informs the executive. Giza produces around 9,000 tonnes of spices per year and exports to North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
The fair
Food Ingredients South America is Brazil’s only event for food ingredients and Latin America’s largest. This year, the fair has over 250 exhibitors and is expecting more than 12,000 visitors in its 14,000 square metre exhibition space.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum