This Monday (10) in your ANBA Bulletin: the Middle East Stone industry show led to over USD 1 million in deals for the Brazilian enterprises that joined it. The show took place last week in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates featuring 19 companies from Brazil, in a stand (pictured above) organized by the Brazilian Dimension Stone Industry Association (Abirochas) with support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. “Lots of deals could go through from now until Dubai Expo 2020, and I believe Brazil will be more and more present in the industry, in a more striking, effective way, and not only in the UAE, but throughout the whole Middle East,” said Brazil’s ambassador to the UAE Fernando Igreja. In the next 12 months, these companies expect to see a combined USD 5.8 million in contracts resulting from contacts made during the show.

And construction tool manufacturing company Scanmetal is working to make its way into the Arab market. It makes items including wheelbarrows, aluminum angles, scantings, safety nets and framing squares. An Arab Chamber member company, it was an exhibitor late last year in Dubai's Big 5. The brand is known in Brazil for product quality and durability, and believes these very features will pave the way for it in the Arab world. “Our wheelbarrows will last as long as five years,” Scanmetal technical representative Gersio Fernandes said.

And since last week, Brazilian volleyball coach Augusto Sabbatini has been working with the male players of Al Nasr Saudi Club, in Saudi Arabia. His goal is to win the championship, which the team last brought home five years ago. “I came here to do my best,” he said.