Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Brazilian companies and associations in the food sector are eyeing the potential of the Arab market more and more. In total, 23 national companies and organizations are going to participate in Gulfood, the largest food industry fair in the Middle East, to take place between February 19 and 22, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. "The participation of Brazilian companies is rising with each edition of the fair. I believe that the number of participants will more than double this year," stated Cristiano Conceição, commercial representative at company Four, specialized in consultancy and foreign trade brokerage.
This will be the third time that the company from the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul participates in the event. According to Conceição, Brazilian companies are starting to see the potential of the Arab market for the import of food. This is so true that three sector organizations – the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef) and the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) – are going to participate in the event.
Last year, for example, only Friboi, associated to the Abiec, participated. In this edition, representatives of 11 companies associated to the organization are going to be present at the event, among them Bertin, Mataboi, Goiascarne, Arantes, Marfrig, Cooperfrigu, Quatro Marcos, Frigoestrela, Minerva, Independência, União do Iguatemi as well as Friboi once again.
"Brazilian agro-industrial exports to the Middle East are on the rise. Meats are already traditional products shipped to the region, but in the case of fruit, it is novel," stated the Apex agribusiness consultant, Marcos Soares.
Brazilian fruit exports to the Arab market still represent a small share of the trade basket, but, according to the president at the Ibraf, Moacyr Saraiva Fernandes, through a press statement, the Arab countries represent a strong potential for imports of the Brazilian product. Among the reasons is the expressive growth in consumption of fruit and juices, due to the hot climate, to the high buying power, to restriction to the consumption of alcoholic beverages and to the growing migration of Asians, who eat tropical fruit.
At the Ibraf stand, to cover an area of 40 square metres, representatives of companies RBR Trading, Atlântica Foods, Predilecta Alimentos and of the Association of Industries that Process Tropical Fruit (ASTN), representing 14 companies, will be present.
Among the companies associated to the Abef will be Avipal, from Rio Grande do Sul, and Perdigão, one of the main companies in the food sector in Brazil. Apart from these companies, the Brazilian Islamic Centre of Halal Food and Four are also going to participate.
Barbecue with fruit juice
To promote fruit and Brazilian cattle beef in Dubai, Abiec, in partnership with the Ibraf, is going to offer a barbecue for around 300 guests, among them importers, government authorities, hotel and restaurant managers and journalists. During the dinner, 190 kilograms of halal meat will be offered, with mango, passion fruit and guava juice.
The dinner, to take place at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, will be preceded by a workshop promoted by the Abiec, including business roundtables between Brazilian and local companies, an event turned to the press and a presentation by organization president Marcus Vinícius Pratini de Morais. "The dinner will be offered on the beach with a view to the Burj Al Arab hotel. I believe that it will be a great success," stated the marketing manager at the Abiec, Andréa Veríssimo.
Brazil is currently the greatest world exporter of cattle beef. Last year, foreign sales totalled US$ 3.9 billion. Shipment totalled 2.4 million tonnes of the product, and the country is the greatest supplier of cattle beef to the United Arab Emirates. Brazil supplies around 5% of the cattle beef consumed all over the world and answers to over 25% of the volume traded internationally, reaching 176 markets.
The fair
Executed since 1987, Gulfood, which is at its 12th edition, is considered the most important business platform for the sectors of foods, beverages, services and equipment for hotels and restaurants in the region. The fair is turned to producers, suppliers and distributors in the food sector from all around the world.
Last year the event brought together 2,173 companies from 70 countries and attracted over 32,000 visitors from 146 countries. Apart from delegations from the Arabian Gulf, the event also receives businessmen from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, among others.
Service
Gulfood
Date: from February 19th to 22nd
Site: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre
Time: from 11:00 am to 07:00 pm
Site: www.gulfood.com
*Translated by Mark Ament
