São Paulo – Three Arab companies met this Monday (9th) with 11Brazilian food companies. All of them took part in matchmaking rounds sponsored by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and by Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil) at the Arab Chamber’s headquarters, in São Paulo. The rounds are part in the World Cup Buyer Project, which brings representatives of companies from several countries to Brazil to engage in a business appointments and to watch World Cup matches. The goal is to boost Brazilian exports.
Chairman of fish processing company Mestre dos Mares, Leandro Di Pietro took part in the matchmaking to display his products to the Arabs. Mestre dos Mares does not export yet and sells most of its products domestically in the Southeast region of Brazil. “The Arab market looks promising to us. We could introduce them to our cuts of fish, such as spotted sorubim fillet (pintado) and arapaima (fresh water fish known in Brazil as pirarucu) and customize our products. They showed interest in our product,” he said.
Sales manager of Alyasra Foods, Fadel Fakih, from Kuwait, said he is Brazil looking for seafood and frozen fish parts. “We already purchase a large quantity of poultry from Sadia, and we are looking for frozen products, such as seafood and fish. We also want chocolates, drops and candies,” he said.
Sales manager of trading company Alimentos do Brasil, Ricardo Gil said there is potential to sell sugar, one of the products his company sells, to Middle Easter and North African countries. “Arab countries are a great market for sugar, a product we deal. They are also interested in powdered milk, but in this case there are a large number of competitors from New Zealand and Europe,” he said.
Purchasing manager of T. Choithrams & Sons, from Dubai, Sandeep Khimnani claimed he is in Brazil looking for poultry. The company already purchases sugar and coffee from Brazil, but Khimnani said he wants to know other brands. “In some sectors, such as poultry, Brazilian prices are very competitive”, he said.
Representative of foreign trade and logistic company Viva Mondo, Jim Sato participated in matchmaking rounds to introduce coffee from Madame D’orvilliers brand, which he represents. “They (the brand) are in an internalization project. They already do business with Russia, Poland, Mexico, United States and now they want to sell to Arab countries. The Arab people consume good products and there is potential for our coffee,” claimed Sato.
He noted that besides retailers, there is the possibility of selling coffee to restaurants and hotels in the Gulf. “We know it is a long negotiation and there are many requirements, but we have coffee with seals of international recognition and it is a high quality product,” he said.
The matchmaking continues this Tuesday (10th) with 13 Brazilian companies, besides the representatives of Alyasra, T. Choithrams & Sons and also Al Islami Foods, from the United Arab Emirates.
World Cup and business
Foreign business analyst of the Marketing and Market Access unity from Apex, Mônica Ramos, said that promoting the buyer project in the World Cup offers to opportunity to increase sales in Brazil via relationship marketing.
“It is what we already do with Carnival and INDYCAR, when we bring potential buyers for business appointments and also to watch such events. We can see a large participation of companies from North America, Africa and also from the Arab Emirates in these projects,” said Ramos.
Arab Chamber’s CEO, Michel Alaby, said that the buyer project is the opportunity to combine business with the pleasure of watching the football matches.” “It is a great opportunity to boost the sales of Brazilian exporters, bringing food sector’s buyers, which is the most competitive sector in Brazil, to have meetings with a larger number of Brazilian companies,” said Alaby.
Other matchmaking rounds are set to take place during the World Cup. On June 25th and 26th, Brazilian companies will meet with construction companies Bajafar Brothers, from Sudan, Atraco Buildtec, from Saudi Arabia, and The Sultan Center (ITG Construction), from Kuwait. On July 2nd and 3rd, food companies from North Africa will come – Onab Trade, from Algeria, Ragab Sons Group, from Egypt, and Koutobia Holding, from Morocco were invited. All of the meetings will be in the Arab Chamber’s office.
Representatives of the Arab companies which took part in the round on June 9th and 10th will watch the opening game of the World Cup, on Thursday (12th), between Brazil and Croatia, in São Paulo. Representatives invited for the rounds on June 25th and 26th will watch Brazil vs Mexico in Brasília, on Monday (23rd). The Arabs taking part in the last matchmaking rounds will watch a quarterfinals match in Brasília, on July 5th.
Service
World Cup Buyer Project
June 9th and 10th – Food companies from the Gulf
June 25th and 26th – Construction companies
July 2nd and 3rd – Food companies from North Africa
The events are held from 10 to 5pm
Place: Av. Paulista, 326, Bela Vista – São Paulo – SP
Information via email members@ccab.org.br or phone (+5511) 3147-4066.
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
Comments