São Paulo – This year’s edition of the main building sector fair in the Middle East, the Big Five, will take place in November. And, as is the case every year, the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (Fiesc) has already started preparing a delegation to participate in the event in Dubai. Between 30 and 35 representatives of companies from the state should participate. The coordinator of the International Business Centre at the Fiesc, Tatiani Leal, visited the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce on Friday (8) to organize the visit of the delegation from Santa Catarina.
Fiesc has been participating in the Big Five since 2006. Since then, it has always had the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber. "We participate in the event as it is the main fair in the sector in the Middle East. We always go there to observe the sector tendencies so as to participate or bring novelties here,” said Tatiani. This will be the 31st edition of the Big Five. The fair is the main building sector fair in the Middle East and North Africa and last year’s edition received visitors from 124 nations.
Big Five should take place between November 21st and 24th this year. The Fiesc delegation to the region, however, should begin before, on the 18th, and end later, on the 26th. And that is no surprise. The businessmen from Santa Catarina are going to participate in seminars and talks and will visit construction sites in Dubai and also in Abu Dhabi, an emirate that attracted their attention in the past. "In 2010, our trip there (to Abu Dhabi) was very fast, but it impressed the visitors. This year we should stay there longer to visit some more constructions and theme parks,” said Tatiani.
This is the only fair in the Middle East that has Fiesc participation. Tatiani said, however, that Santa Catarina may benefit from more events, in other sectors. “We have potential in the food and agro industrial sectors and may win with this. Sometimes we have an export company that does not know the market in the Middle East and ends up investing in traditional markets instead of exploring new potential,” she said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
