São Paulo – The 56th edition of the Damascus International Fair, in Syria, was inaugurated yesterday (14th) by the prime minister Mohammed Naji Otri, who visited the stands to welcome participants from 48 different countries. Among the 4,523 exhibitors at the event is Brazil, with a 54 square-metre stand organised by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Brazilian embassy in the Syrian capital.
“The fair is an opportunity to strengthen friendship ties between participating countries, as well as generate economic, commercial and technical cooperation between Syria and brotherly and friendly countries,” said Otri in his opening address. According to him, in Syria, despite the crisis, there has been growth of the economy and the GDP, reduction of unemployment rates, and increase in investment volume in tourism, development and services projects.
The presence of the prime minister at the fair attracted the attention of participants. “For the first time in many years, the prime minister has come to the inauguration of the fair,” said Arab Brazilian Chamber director Sami Roumieh, who greeted Otri and other ministers who were also attending the fair. At the Brazilian stand, the Market Development analyst of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rafael Abdulmassih, and diplomats from the embassy will be available during the event to receive those interested in doing business with Brazil.
Brazilian companies such as Cholet, a maker of women’s clothing; JTL, of luxury bathroom metal; Antenas Cristal, of television antennae; APCO, of auto parts; and furniture manufacturers RR Móbile, Formóveis and Província are promoting their products at the fair by means of catalogues. The Brazilian stand is located at pavilion 11, alongside the stands of companies from Indonesia, Egypt, India, Belarus, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. “We are very well placed,” said Abdulmassih, who believes that many people should seek the stand during the event.
The fair, which will continue until the 22nd, has an area of 71,000 square metres and features 1,993 international exhibitors. One of the largest foreign delegations in this edition is Venezuela’s, with 25 businessmen. Aside from the business meetings generated at the fair, the event also includes local and international artistic attractions.
Fair in Brazil
During a visit that Abdulmassih made to the Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC), yesterday in Damascus, the analyst talked about the Brazilian sector fairs, and invited the SEBC to bring Syrian companies to the country. “They expressed much interest in participating in food fairs,” said Abdulmassih. According to him, the Syrian organisation intends to organise its participation in a Brazilian fair next year. At the meeting, the analyst also wanted to learn about sector fairs in Syria, so that the Arab Brazilian Chamber may participate in the future.
*With information from the Syrian Arab News Agency (Sana). Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
