São Paulo – Micro and small entrepreneurs from Paraná have been showing interest in participating in fairs promoted in the Arab countries by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. During a talk by the organisation’s secretary general, Michel Alaby, at the Paraná state branch of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae/PR), promoted yesterday (16) in state capital Curitiba, he spoke about events like the Gulfood, in the food sector, and the Big 5 Show, in the civil construction sector, promoted in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
"The businessmen showed interest in fairs and trade missions that the Arab Brazilian Chamber is scheduling," said Alaby. According to him, around 30 people participated in the event, among them businessmen in the food, cosmetics, wood and furniture, software, pasta, biscuit and sweet sectors. Apart from representatives of the Sebrae, among them consultant Rafael Tortato, also present were representatives of the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep) and the Arab Brazilian Chamber director in Curitiba, Kamal Davi Curi.
The talk by Alaby, which covered theme "Business opportunities with the Arab countries," was part of a series of talks focussing on international market prospecting, promoted by the Sebrae/PR. The initiative takes place in the sidelines of the Program for Internationalisation of Micro and Small Companies in the State of Paraná.
"I spoke about the business opportunities in each region and gave hints as to the moment of negotiation," said Alaby, who showed an institutional video and another about the Arab countries.
From January to July, exports from the state of Paraná to the Arab market totalled US$ 552.6 million, representing growth of 5.92% over the same period last year. The main products shipped were chicken, sugar, maize, soy, wood, wheat and coffee.
On the other hand, imports from the state from the League of Arab states totalled US$ 53.82 million in the first seven months of the year, against US$ 270.5 million in the same period in 2008. Chemical products, like phosphates and its derivatives, were the main items imported.
Cycle of events
The talk by Alaby was the second promoted by the Sebrae/PR within the Program for Internationalisation of the organisation. The idea is to promote a cycle of events with several Chambers of Commerce. According to consultant Tortato, the proposal by the Sebrae/PR is to take the event to other cities in Paraná, like Maringá, Londrina, Cascavel and Pato Branco.
The first event of the cycle was promoted in June, when the president at the Brazil-Portugal Chamber of Commerce, José Brandão Coelho, spoke about the country as a gateway for business with Europe.
*Translated by Mark Ament
