S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Arab countries may not be known for harbouring vast numbers of hang glider pilots, but the sport is growing in Middle Eastern and North African countries, paving the way for good business deals. Such is the case with Sol Paragliders, a hang glider manufacturing company based in the state of Santa Catarina that has four Arab countries among its clients, spread across 68 different markets.<\/p>\n
At present, the company based in the city of Jaragu\u00e1 do Sul sells to Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Tunisia, but it has done business with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Libya, Lebanon and Bahrain in the past. \u201cThere are many Arab hang glider pilots,\u201d claims Ary Carlos Pradi, a partner of Sol Paragliders. \u201cThere are several pilots in the Emirates, for instance,\u201d he points out. According to the businessman, Saudi Arabia and Morocco are also home to hang gliding enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
According to Pradi, the Arabs mostly purchase beginner and intermediate hang gliding equipment. \u201cThey are coming into greater contact with the sport now,\u201d he says. To him, that translates into good growth potential for the company\u2019s business. He also underscores that the good relations between Brazil and the Arab countries contribute to increase the brand\u2019s acceptance in those markets.<\/p>\n
The Arab countries currently account for around 4% of Sol Paragliders’ exports. Pradi says he will continue attending international fairs, such as the Coupe Icare, in France, where he made the contact that broke him into the Middle East, four years ago, through a reseller in Iran. According to the company\u2019s partner, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are the countries with the most potential for growth among the Arabs. \u201cSaudi Arabia is a great place to fly,\u201d he stresses.<\/p>\n
Half the annual production of 1,800 hang glider kits is shipped to the foreign market. The kit includes a hang glider, a seat and an emergency parachute. Each kit is sold to the export reseller for prices ranging from US$ 1,200 to US$ 2,200. The end consumer price, overseas, is around US$ 4,500.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe world of hang gliding is a small one. There are approximately 60 companies worldwide, and only 30 are certified (by DHV, a German hang glider certifier organization) like ours,\u201d says Pradi regarding the large number of countries to which the company sells. According to him, European countries are the leading buyers of his equipment, accounting for 30% of all the material exported.<\/p>\n
Although 50% is turned to the foreign market, exports comprise only 30% of the company\u2019s annual revenues of 6 million reals (US$ 3.6 million). Pradi explains that the so-called \u201ccusto Brasil\u201d (i.e. the cost of doing business in Brazil), which includes factors such as the high tax burden, ends up detracting from the gains of manufacturers of medium- and high-technology equipment, and thus affecting their foreign market competitiveness.<\/p>\n
Contact <\/b><\/p>\n
Sol Paragliders
Tel: (+55 47) 3275-7711
E-mail: info@solsports.com.br
Site: www.solparagliders.com.br<\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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