Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – The 51st Damascus International Fair will include a stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. The multi-sector event, to generate around US$ 100 million in business, should take place between September 3 and 12, in the Syrian capital. This year, the Santo André city hall, a city in Greater São Paulo, the largest industrial region in Brazil, will include representatives from various regions so as to start contacts with the Arab market.
The fair represents an opportunity for Brazilian businessmen interested in selling their products to the region. Apart from answering to the Syrian market, the fair is usually visited by businessmen from other Arab countries.
As it is an important supplier to Iraq, Syria hopes to do business of up to US$ 1 billion with the neighbouring country this year.
"Syria is a country showing surprising industrial growth, and is a new market. Brazilian products have great chances of being sold in the region," stated CCAB secretary general Michel Alaby. "Software is one of the areas that can be greatly explored. There is also space for trade and bank automation," he added.
Recently, Syrian businessmen Ali Nazzal, from Nazzal Security Group, visited Brazil and negotiated the purchase of automatic teller machines produced by company Perto S.A. from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Nazzal ordered five machines of different models to be used in demonstrations to potential customers in the region.
The comparison between Brazilian export to Syria in the first five months of this year is satisfying when compared to the same period last year. From January to May 2004 Brazilian export to the country rose 632%, with shipping revenues rising US$ 8.8 million to US$ 64.3 million.
Brazilian promotion
The Santo André city hall has reserved space in the Brazilian stand for companies of various sectors that are based in the municipality. "We have not yet defined what companies will be present, but I can forward that there will be technological incubators, auto parts makers, companies in plastics, and information technology innovations," stated André Betine, Foreign Relations director of the Santo André Development and Regional Activities secretariat.
According to Betine, "the city has been developing the ABC project, organizing activities in partnership with Chambers of Commerce of various countries in the city of São Paulo."
According to him, partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce was established due to the opening of Arab markets to Brazilian products, mainly after the tour Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took to the Middle East in December 2003.
"This year we are going to participate in the fair in Damascus so as to make contact with the Middle East. Next year we will be participating in the fair in Algiers, so as to be able to enter the North African market," he explained.
Algiers International Fair is also a multi-sector event and normally takes place in the Algerian capital in the month of June.
Various sectors
Damascus International Fair is turned to food, auto parts and transport vehicles, raw material for cosmetic production and personal hygiene products, medical and hospital equipment, including dentistry material and surgery furniture, machinery and agricultural equipment, finished products for the hotel and tourism industry, and software, among others.
Last year, Damascus International Fair covered an area of 1.2 million square metres and included 4,514 exhibitors, being 2,494 foreign.
The CCAB has been participating in the even since 1996. In 2003, the Brazilian stand included the participation of 16 companies in various sectors, with special attention to food, agricultural machinery, marble, and granites.
Contact
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Marketing Department
Telephone: (+5511) 3283.4066
E-mail: marketing@ccab.org.br
