This year's edition, which is organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), is scheduled to take place from November 23 to 27, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Apart from that, over 200 Brazilian businessmen and class organizations and government members should visit the fair and have an opportunity to show the production capacity of the building industry whose revenues in 2008 should reach US$ 46.2 billion, according to an analysis by the Brazilian Association of the Construction Material Industry (Abramat).
"We are very proud of participating in this partnership with the Apex in one of the main Chamber activities in the Arab world. The organization is working on prospecting to present the region to Brazilian businessmen who will be on the mission to Dubai," said Antônio Sarkis Jr, chairman at the Arab Brazilian Chamber.
"This is the largest group in the history of Brazilian participation in the fair," noted Sarkis.
According to him, the interest in the forecasted growth of the building sector in the Arab countries in coming years is great. "The initial tendency is to increase the building structure. It is a good market with perspectives for growth each year," he pointed out.
Michel Alaby, secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, also agrees that what attracts the greatest attention in this edition is the greater number of businessmen interested in visiting the fair. "Several class organizations in Brazil are visiting the Big 5," he pointed out.
Among the organizations to be included in the Brazilian mission to the emirate, Alaby mentioned a delegation from the state of Santa Catarina, with 70 businessmen, led by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI), a delegation by the Civil Construction Industry Association (Sinduscon/RS) with around 50 businessmen, a delegation from the state of Pernambuco, with around 80 people including politicians and businessmen, and also a delegation from the state of Ceará, with around 20 participants, from the Federation of Industries of the State of Ceará (FIEC).
"Next week we are going to talk to the advisory of the deputy governor of the state of Brasília, which should also take a delegation," explained the secretary.
In Dubai, apart from visiting the Big 5, to observe and study the sector, work on competitor price research and make contact with importers from the region and other countries, the Brazilian businessmen should participate in a seminar to present the building sector in the Middle East – with specialists and Arab consultants, on November 22nd, with no venue defined yet.
"Apart from the seminar, several activities should be organized in the sidelines of the event, including a tour of the city," forwarded Alaby.
According to him, the fair is a show of business opportunities. "The Big 5 is one of the three most important global fairs in the building sector due to the size of the exhibitors, number of visitors and business volume," he pointed out. In 2007, the fair covered an area of over 10,000 square meters (108,000 square feet), received over 50,000 visitors and generated over US$ 1 billion in business.
"The business opportunities with importers in the whole region are very large. An important market in the point of view of works. Despite the international crisis, there should be no reflexes in the region, as they have great reserves and a strong banking sector," he guaranteed.
According to Adalberto Schiehll, Apex's project manager, the building sector in the Middle East shows great potential for Brazil, which has great chances in the real estate sector.
"The government of Brazil has as its targets expanding Brazilian exports from 1.1% of global trade to 1.25% by 2010. With this target in mind, we have to go out and seek new markets," he said.
Apart from that, according to Schiehll, the Arab market is opening as an alternative to replace the exports of houses and building material to the United States, currently the main market for Brazilian sector exports.
"I would say that there are two great objectives at the fair. The first is to reach the government's export target and the second is to seek alternatives to shipments to the United States, which have been dropping for a year," he said.
The Brazil Pavilion at the Big 5 Show should cover 480 square meters (5,200 square feet) and should be in the central hall. It will be divided into several environments with products applied to a project by famous Brazilian designer Ivan Resende. This is the fifth Brazilian participation in the Big 5 Show and the objective is to show buyers the diversification of building material made in the country, including the possibilities for customization.
According to an Arab Chamber study, in 2007 Brazil exported US$ 8.27 billion in building sector products to the world, representing growth of 8.95% when compared to the previous year. The main destinations for Brazilian exports in the sector were the United States (US$ 1.78 billion), Argentina (US$ 872 million), the Arab nations (US$ 379.91 million), Venezuela (US$ 368.13 million) and Chile (US$ 366.90 million).
When considered a single destination for exports, the Arab countries are in the 3rd position for Brazilian exports of building material, totaling US$ 379.91 million in 2007. The Arab countries purchased just 4.59% of sector exports to the world, whereas the growth was 21.92% over 2006.
Among the Arab countries, the main destinations were the United Arab Emirates (US$ 116.12 million), Saudi Arabia (US$ 109.64 million), Morocco (US$ 41.85 million), Oman (US$ 21.94 million) and Algeria (US$ 21.36 million).
Service
Big 5 Show
From November 23rd to 27th, 2008
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Site: www.thebig5exhibition.com
Anba