The roundtable is part of the Fiam 2008 business program, promoted by the Manaus Free Zone Superintendence (Suframa) in Studio 5 of the Manaus Convention Center. The Amazonas branch of the Sebrae is the institution responsible for the organisation of the Business Roundtables.
Murillo Foresti was impressed with the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, baskets and decoration objects made by artisan Moy Sateré. As raw material, according to him, she uses the traditional knowledge of her forefathers: seeds and natural fibers removed from the forest.
"I am in Brazil trying to invest in handicraft and juice, as they are products that are very well accepted in the United States. I am amazed not only with the beauty of the objects, but also with the Indian history that each one carries," he declared.
Moy Sateré said that she learnt how to make the objects artistically with her parents and, over the years, noticed that the activity was a good opportunity to generate income. "I have already participated in the meetings today and the product was well accepted in all of them. I am sure that I will soon close excellent deals," she said.
Also eyeing the foreign market is businessman Valdemarino Duarte Alecrim, the owner of furniture factory Amazon Mobile, a small organization. He says that in his first meeting in the Business Rountables he spoke to a representative of a Spanish company and, according to what was agreed, the European company should send projects for production of furniture more adequate to the demands of the European market.
"The Brazilian market has its own demands in terms of design and ergonomics. With regard to the foreign market, demands are different. For this reason the company from Spain is going to send projects showing what demands they have. With this, we are going to make our products comply and will be able to enter the foreign market," he said.
In all, about 200 people participated in the International Business Roundtable, between national and foreign companies, associations and cooperatives. At least 370 meetings took place between those participating. Of all the companies present, 22 are anchor organizations and, among them, at least 10 are from Canada, the United States, Spain and Germany.
According to José Marcelo de Castro Lima, executive at the International Business Center (CIN) at the Federation of Industries of the State of Amazonas (Fieam), micro and small companies from Amazonas exported around US$ 5.5 million in Amazon products, like fishery, wood, fruit and oils.
Up to June this year, sector exports totaled US$ 2.2 million, according to the executive. "We hope that, with the Business Roundtable, the export figures for this year may grow further. We are optimistic with regard to this," said José Marcelo, who is participating in the Business Roundtables offering guidance to companies interested in selling abroad.
Sebrae