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Representatives of Brazilian companies that participated in the Hotel Show, a fair of products for hotels, which ended May 24 in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, made a positive balance of the contacts made during the three days of the event.
Participation of eight companies was the first result of a partnership between the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) and the government of the state of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil.
"The balance was very positive. The fair has a very cosmopolite environment, which adds value to the business," stated the owner of sweet factory Chocolate Araucária, Marcos Arthur Gerlinger, referring to the fact that he made contact with businessmen from the most varied of places, like Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Austria.
This was the first time that the company, based in the city of Campos do Jordão, participated in a fair in the Middle East.
The company started exporting to France, the United States, Argentina and Spain last year and intends to enter the Arab market this year.
"Dubai has plans for the construction of over 100 hotels in the next five years. It is a market that is growing and is needy of resources," stated Gerlinger.
According to him, apart from this need, the United Arab Emirates have good relations with the remaining countries in the Middle East. "Participation in this fair in Dubai is a good start," he added.
The export director of porcelain company Posani Cor e Design, Élcio Lima, believes that with participation in the Hotel Show, company foreign sales may increase.
"I cannot make an estimate of how much exports to the Arab countries may grow, but I can guarantee that we are certainly going to be much more present in the region," he said, explaining that the company already exports to Lebanon, Kuwait and Egypt, and to another 39 countries.
According to Lima, among the main products exported to the region are dinner sets, coffee sets, and separate pieces, like plates, coffee pots and refractory products, apart from ceramic elements for water filtering.
"One interesting point of the fair was that we made many direct contacts with end users, who are hotels. They were very interested in our products," he said. Posani Cor e Design exports 18% of production and this year intends to elevate exports to 30% of production.
Apart from these companies, Nadir Figueiredo and Cristais São Marcos closed deals. In the second day of the fair, Nadir Figueiredo had already signed export contracts for 14 containers of products.
They will go to Egypt, Syria and Pakistan. Cristais São Marcos has also signed contracts with the Arab countries for the export of four containers.
"The companies were satisfied. The fair was very positive. All of them are negotiating business deals due to contacts made at the fair," stated the CCAB foreign relations manager, Carla Nabhan, who was at the fair.
According to her, around 300 people visited the "Space São Paulo", as the Brazilian stand was named. Other Brazilian companies present were Amazônia Fibras Naturais, Fruitland, Foneplan, Rempar and Topema.
ANBA - Brazil-Arab News Agency - www.anba.com.br
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