São Paulo – The market for building material in Sudan is growing and holds promise for Brazilian companies. The information was supplied by the secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who is currently in the country to attend the Khartoum International Fair, which features a stand organized by the Chamber and the Brazilian embassy in the country. According to Alaby, there is a strong demand for building material due to the large volume of construction works, boosted by the rising oil production.
The Brazilian ambassador to Khartoum, Antonio Pedro, confirms that there are opportunities for selling building material in Sudan, and claims that the Arab country is open to doing business with Brazil. “Brazil is very well liked here, the country has a positive status. They are eager to have a more relevant trade with us, they trust our product and our country,” says the diplomat.
In this edition of the Khartoum International Fair, the Brazilian stand does not feature building material companies, but the fair has several stands for the industry, mainly of Turkish and Chinese companies. According to the Arab Brazilian Chamber’s secretary general, the demand ranges from ceramics and tiles to electric material. Alaby states that Brazilian companies must tap into this market.
Ambassador Antonio Pedro calls attention to the fact that the country offers opportunities not only in this industry, but in others such as infrastructure, agriculture, meats and biofuels as well. He mentions that a new airport and a railway are currently being built in the country, which has also exported ethanol to Europe for the first time. According to Antonio Pedro, the fair has proven to be an opportunity to make contacts.
The Khartoum International Fair began last Monday (1st) and will continue until next week. The Brazilian stand counts on three exhibiting companies, Grendene, a shoe manufacturer, JBS, in the meat industry, and Fiasini, for furniture. On this Wednesday (3rd), JBS representatives visited Giad, one of the large Sudanese industrial conglomerates. The company’s operations run the gamut from transports to communication, telecommunication and agriculture. The visit was accompanied by Alaby, ambassador Antonio Pedro and the head of the Fairs and Tourism Division at the Brazilian foreign office (Itamaraty), Flávio Marcílio Sapha.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
