Index, the largest furniture and decoration trade show in the Middle East, has rendered 1,068 trade contracts for the 35 participant Brazilian companies and business expectations worth US$ 7.75 million for the next 12 months. This figure is 72% greater than last year’s, which was of US$ 4.5 million.
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), together with the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex), organized a pavilion of almost 500 square meters at the trade show, which took place from the 22nd to 26th of September in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Brazilian products are getting more recognition by the Arabs each time,” said Rogério Bellini, project manager at Apex.
Indeed, just to the Emirates, Brazilian furniture exports rose from US$ 418,000 in 2001, to US$ 834,000 in 2002 and US$ 3.5 million in 2003. “And our expectation is for a big increase in the Arab market this year,” said Bellini.
According to information provided by the fair organizers, the countries in the region imported the equivalent to US$ 4 billion in furniture and decoration products in 2003.
The nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar) alone were responsible for US$ 1.3 billion. The countries in the Gulf imported another US$ 1.1 billion last year.
Armchairs Highlighted
The most noted exhibitor among the Brazilian companies was mattress manufacturer Americanflex, from the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of the state of São Paulo.
But their greatest success was not their mattresses, but a new line of coloured and foldable armchairs designed by the company.
According to Bellini, the company has closed deals for the value of US$ 2 million and increased the Brazilian stand’s figures.
Another highlight was consortium Movexport, composed of 11 factories from the city of Ubá in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, which negotiated contracts for the value of US$ 1 million and announced the opening of a new permanent showroom in Sarjah, close to Dubai.
Index has a special characteristic: deals are closed at the fair, and many times visitors buy the products that are being exhibited.
An example of this was what happened with Incema, a factory from the state of Santa Catarina that received its first order right after opening of the fair.
“The company sold one container (of bedroom furniture) in 90 seconds. The fair opened and they closed the deal,” stated Bellini.
Visitors
Around 3,000 people visited the Brazilian stand at the fair and the organizers are already considering reserving a larger space, 700 square meters, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre next year.
According to Bellini, Index is the international fair that concentrates the largest number of companies in the furniture sector.
In total, the event, inaugurated by Dubai crown prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was visited by 34,070 people and had 1,281 companies from 52 countries as exhibitors.
ANBA – Brazil-Arab News Agency