São Paulo – The state of Minas Gerais increased its service sector exports by 59% last year. Foreign sales by the state totalled US$ 404 million in 2007, according to a survey disclosed this week by the government of the state. The segment is growing fast. Proof is the fact that in 2003, exports stood at US$ 20 million.
Foreign sales range from services and know how in the metallurgy sector, which answered to 32.2% of the total, to sports and recreational activities, at 9.4%, metallic mineral extraction, 5.1%, consultancy in environmental management, which corresponded to 4.9% of total exports, and office services, administrative support and other services provided to companies, 4.9%.
Exports also included services in architecture and engineering, clinical tests and analyses, wholesale trade, foodstuff manufacturing, services in information and manufacturing of machinery, electric appliances and materials.
"The expansion of service exports is proof that the state has huge potential for expanding its share in one of the most valued global markets: the trade of knowledge and ideas," says the undersecretary for Economic Develop of the state of Minas Gerais, Raphael Guimarães Andrade.
The director at Central Exportaminas, Jorge Duarte Oliveira, highlights the rising demand for guidance by entrepreneurs interested in supplying services to other countries. Most of them are potential exporters of software, advisory and consultancy services, and medical and hospital services, among others. Central Exportaminas is a programme maintained by the government of the state, turned to fostering local exports.
"These entrepreneurs are generally highly skilled, with enough ability to compete in the foreign market. They usually have domestic market experience in the type of service they are willing to provide to foreign countries," claims Jorge Oliveira.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
