From the Newsroom
São Paulo – The government of the state of São Paulo is going to take small and medium companies to the main international fairs. The measure was announced this week by the São Paulo state Science, Technology, Economic Development, and Tourism secretary, João Carlos Meirelles.
The government is going to pay for the stands of smaller companies at fairs in which Brazil will not have participation through the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) or the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae).
According to secretary Meirelles a total of US$ 100,000 will be invested in the project in 2005. The Bank of Brazil will finance air tickets and hotel fees. The government objective is to participate in between five and ten fairs next year. "Some sectors still do not have the necessary support to prospect new markets," he said.
The government of the state of São Paulo is implementing a series of measures to provide incentives to state export. One of them is the creation of an electronic catalogue of exporters, giving them lager visibility with regard to importers. "We want to reduce the difficulties in collecting information regarding companies and products that are exported by the State," stated Meirelles.
Currently 8,100 companies from the state of São Paulo export regularly. According to the state secretary, the target is to double this figure up to 2006 and provide incentives for larger participation by small and medium companies in foreign trade. The export growth in the state of São Paulo should reach 40% this year.
São Paulo state sent the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) a request for the financing of US$ 20 million, with a US$ 20 million by the São Paulo state Sebrae, for the support of local productive poles. Throughout Brazil there is already a series of micro, small, and medium companies that have joined forces to improve the quality of their products for the purpose of export.
