Crisis opens doors of the Arabic market to Brazilian products
DCI
The international financial crisis provided the Brazilian companies the opportunity to have access to the Arabian market. Importers of the region are in São Paulo, as guests of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, for a round of negotiations with Brazilian entrepreneurs and declare their first impressions on the Brazilian production are very good, mainly in the sectors of paper, organic honey, ceramics, decoration and glasses.
Tarek Amin, owner of the Egyptian company Taco, affirmed that by effectively fighting the crisis Brazil gained prominence in the international market. Amin explained his company uses US$ 5 million a year in the purchase of goods for the catering of hotels in Egypt and depending on the development of the negotiations he may reserve part of such amount for Brazilian companies or even increase the figures and buy more than planned.
The manager of the hotel and restaurant supply division at the Jordanian company Med.I.C.A., Rana Khoury, came to the Country seeking items like china, silverware and foods. "We are seeking ways to expand our hotel division", said the manager who currently imports goods from other countries. Since the company provides supplies for hospitals, Rana also plans on meeting hospital furniture exporters. She added the company works all over the Middle-East.
Bruno Silveira, market development analyst of the Brazilian High-End Furniture Manufacturers Association (Abimad), explained the DCI team of reporters that only five of the associated companies were able to make it to the round of negotiations, but that they expect to enter into several agreements like those executed in February this year in Dubai. "At the fair held in the beginning of the year we closed US$ 2.5 million in businesses during the two days and another US$ 12 million in contracts for the following twelve months. Today we see that Brazil has its doors open for the Middle-East, and that mainly due to the quality and originality of its products, there will be greater growth in sales after the crisis since the image of the Country is good before the eyes of the market", declared the analyst.
The Brazilian exports to the Arabian market achieved US$ 6.05 billion from January to August. There was a slight fall of 1% compared to the same period of last year, due to the performance in the month of August.