Invest SP helps to export toys from São Paulo
Agency brings buyers from Japanese department stores to learn about children's products; program includes a kite factory, the Lottie Dottie Chicken cartoon and Havaianas
Investe São Paulo
Many articles and concepts are exported from São Paulo to the world. And, in these times of global recession, a sector that continues to develop is the creative economy, which includes culture, design and new technologies.
In order to promote the development through the internationalization of these and other products and services that come from São Paulo, Investe São Paulo began on January 11th the second front of the SP Export: Buyer Project, which consists of road shows to international buyers.
The first of them is being held with the large Japanese department store chain Isetan, and aims to take children's articles, such as clothing, toys, accessories and even musical instruments, to the other side of the globe. The action complements the work performed by the facilitator Suriana and by Apex-Brasil, the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of the Federal Government. At the same time, another group of executives visited food establishments.
"We are today major exporters of agricultural products and minerals. But we know the importance of internationalizing intangible assets that have high added value, such as design, art and cultural concepts," explains the Investe SP president, Juan Quirós. The Investment Promotion Agency is connected with the Department of Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation, which has a sector dedicated exclusively to the development of the creative economy and which has conducted a diagnosis of this important market.
Isetan holds every year at its headquarters an event where products of several brands and sectors of Brazil are available to the Japanese public. One of the objectives of the visit this year was to define with some Brazilian manufacturers the import of the main items, normally intermediated by Suriana.
"We like to show our children toys that introduce the Brazilian culture, which is a faraway country, into their own reality," said the head of the children's products division of the network, Ryoko Noguchi, during the visit to Bromélia Filmes, the studio that produces the cartoon Lottie Dottie Chicken. During her visit to the children's products companies, she was accompanied by Hiroaki Haga, an employee from a Brazilian importer.
In addition to the famous Brazilian characters like Lottie Dottie Chicken, Fishtronaut and Monica's Gang, the Japanese committee also met a few small companies. These are businesses that are not exported yet and could receive the support from Investe São Paulo in their internationalization process, such as Casa das Pipas and CAS Brinquedos.
Check out the full list of the companies visited by the Japanese executives:
• Maurício de Souza Produções
• Tok Stok
• COM Desenho
• Mormai
• Grow
• Di Giorgio
• Casa das Pipas
• Bromélia Filmes
• Fishtronaut
• Havaianas
• Choque Cultural
• COM Desenho
According to Quirós, accompanying the Isetan committee was also very important because it will serve as a benchmark for future visits. "SP Export also includes studies and the construction of strategies to maximize the market opportunities for the companies in São Paulo. Our staff will always act as a facilitator, coordinating strategic information and guiding the entrepreneur through the aid tools offered by both government agencies of all natures and trade associations in Brazil," he explained.
About SP Export
Launched in September 2015, the program was created to foster export activities in the state of São Paulo. Its mains objectives are: increase the export culture in the business environment of São Paulo, the volume of exports, and the presence of state companies in the traditional markets; help trade liberalization in non-traditional markets for products and services in the state; and help the state companies to find foreign markets for their products and services.