The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) recently concluded a Focus Market seminar in São Paulo to discuss opportunities for Brazilian exporters to expand their market presence in Saudi Arabia.

The forum was held in collaboration with the National Confederation of Industries (CNI), the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).

Brazilian exports to Saudi Arabia were valued at $3 billion in 2012, according to recent figures from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

Around 585 Brazilian companies currently export various products, including chicken, sugar, maize, iron ore and soy among other items, to Saudi Arabia.

Mauricio Borges, president of Apex-Brasil, said: “Saudi Arabia has been a major destination of Brazilian products and we are seeing more opportunities to further expand trade activities between the two countries, particularly in the areas of food, beverages, agribusiness, fashion, housing and civil construction.”

“A growing number of exporters from Brazil are therefore taking advantage of the strong demand for Brazilian products as well as the robust trade relations to establish their presence within the Saudi Arabia market.

“This recent seminar we organised underlines the strategic importance of Apex-Brasil in promoting the sustained growth of trade activities between Brazil and Saudi Arabia,” Borges added.

The seminar provided critical information about the local market dynamics, the preferred ways of dealing with clients, forms for promotion and cultural sensitivities to be observed. – TradeArabia News Service