São Paulo – The Arab buyers who participated in the business roundtables at the Equipotel hotel sector fair, in São Paulo, are enthusiastic regarding the Brazilian products. Yesterday (15), over 40 national companies met with five importers from the Middle East, brought by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, to participate in the event that ends tomorrow at the Anhembi Exhibition Pavilion.
"I liked the meetings very much. There are companies interested and with great potential," said Rana Khoury, the manager of the supply division for hotels and restaurants at Med.I.C.A, a Jordanian company, who liked the panels and mirrors with finishing in silver and gold by company MZArtes, from Santa Catarina. According to the company trader, Raphael Caldas, apart from liking the panels, Rana also found the price good.
The manager also showed interest in chocolates, biscuits, cakes, toast and sweets by companies represented by the trading company Pacific. "We do not export to Jordan yet, but I believe that we have a great chance," said supervisor Fabiano Fusco. According to him, Rana asked for samples of snacks and said he would check prices to know whether they are competitive in the market.
Pacific, which already exports to Dubai, has just opened the market into Lebanon. "In two weeks time, we are going to ship a container of honey bread, chocolate and biscuits for insertion of products into the market," said Fusco, who got in contact with the company at food sector fair Gulfood, in February, in Dubai.
Brazilian upholstery also pleased Rana. According to the Market Development analyst at the Brazilian High-End Furniture Manufacturers Association (Abimad), Bruno Silveira, who accompanied the meeting with Companhia das Fibras, from Minas Gerais, Med.I.C.A has already worked with upholstery and is interested in importing. "I felt great interest in the talks and think it is quite possible that a partnership may arise," said Silveira.
Another importer who was interested in the Brazilian products was manager Hemant Kambli, from Dhofar Global, from the United Arab Emirates, which works with paper for hygiene. Every month, the group imports 25 containers of toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, spools of paper, industrial and hospital paper and disposable bibs, among others, from Italy. "It is a very great market and has much potential for growth," said Kambli.
According to him, quality, price and service are fundamental. One of the companies that most interested the manager was Jofel, of institutional hygiene and cleaning. Kambli should take several samples and rolls of paper to test in the market in Dubai.
Egyptian businessman Tarek Amin, the president of Taco, a supplier of porcelain for hotels, showed interest in the cups and glasses made by Nadir Figueiredo, which is already present in most of the Arab world. "When I return, I want to get a price quotation to see whether it is worthwhile," said Amin.
Another Brazilian product that pleased the Arabs was the honey produced by company Novo Mel, which makes works with several flavours for the product. The export manager at the company, Carlos Rehder, spoke to almost all importers, even those who do not work with the product. "They were very interested," he said.
The sympathy of Brazilians also attracted attention. The product manager at Baal, from Lebanon, Hasmig Krikorian, who is seeking decoration objects, said that he does not yet import from Brazil, but that receptiveness and the sympathy of Brazilians generated greater interest in starting to negotiate with companies in the country.
*Translated by Mark Ament
