Randa Achmawi, special report for ANBA*
Cairo – Brazil may fill a space in the market between the Asian and European products. This statement was made yesterday to ANBA by Mohamed Fahmy Ibrahim, who is the Public Relations of Cairo International Fair, in which Brazilian companies are participating in a space organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. "Brazilian products have great chances of winning in various areas of the Egyptian market as they offer both quality and price, which is difficult to find in trade with other regions of the world," he explained.
According to him, in most cases, the Egyptians must decide whether to pay high prices for European products or lower prices for lower quality products, as is the case with products from SE Asia. For this reason, Fahmi believes that if Brazil can offer an intermediary alternative to these two profiles, country products may win a greater space in relations with Egypt.
Brazil already has significant trade with Egypt: US$ 900 million last year. The Arab Brazilian Chamber, however, together with public organizations and Brazilian companies, is working on further increasing these figures. Participating in the fair in Cairo is company Tangará, a maker of powdered milk, and Starrett, which makes saws, as well as the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) and the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef), both represented by the Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras).
Yesterday, during the fourth day of the fair, the number of importers present almost tripled. According to the secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, who is in Egypt, the tendency, from now on, is for Brazil also to participate in fairs turned to sectors like auto parts, food, agricultural machinery and construction material. At these fairs, according to Alaby, there is the possibility of immediate results. "At a fair like the one in Cairo, business normally takes place in between six and eight months," he said.
According to Alaby, if the meat sector is taken into consideration, the business potential at the fair is US$ 200 million. "Powdered milk alone has a purchase potential greater than US$ 12 million," he said. According to the secretary general, the next step to be taken in relations between Brazil and Egypt is the promotion of a greater number of partnerships, which may contribute further to an increase of trade transactions.
Arab League
In Cairo, Alaby also had a series of other meetings, among them some with representatives at the League of Arab States. At the organization topics discussed included the meeting of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for the Arab Countries, to take place in Saudi Arabia between April 3 and 6. According to Alaby, at the meeting topics to be discussed should include economic relations between the Arab and South American countries. "The strength of the Arab community in South America should be discussed," he said.
At the meeting, other topics to be discussed should also include themes connected to the public sector like, for example, the creation of mixed bilateral committees, simplification of the process for getting visas for business and tourism, the search for a aerial routes between South America and the Arab countries and the establishment of treaties to avoid dual taxation of joint investment.
The idea is also to maintain a more effective connection between Arab Chambers of Commerce in South America and Chambers in the Arab countries themselves. "One of the proposals is to link the sites. Another is to exchange information about investment, trade, tourism and business," stated Alaby. Closer ties in education are also expected, as in the case of the Saudi Science Club, which recently sent representatives to Brazil.
The fair
Cairo International Fair began on Sunday and ends on Tuesday. The Arab Brazilian Chamber is organizing the Brazilian space together with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) and the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
*Translated by Mark Ament
