[2007-09-14]  Egyptian cotton has market in Santa Catarina
Egypt and the state of Santa Catarina (in southern Brazil) have a potential for increasing their bilateral trade, which stood at US$ 8.5 million in 2006. One such opportunity is in the textile sector, as companies in the southern Brazilian state are working hard to produce higher value-added products, and the Egyptians have high quality raw material in the field. The theme was the subject of a meeting held yesterday at the offices of the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina, in Florianópolis (capital of the state).

São Paulo – Egypt, an Arab country in North Africa, and the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina have potential for broadening the scope of their bilateral trade. The idea was presented yesterday (11) in the seminar "Business opportunities with Egypt," held at the offices of the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (Fiesc), in the city of Florianópolis (capital of the state). According to the president at the Fiesc Chamber of Technology, Alexandre Cunha, one of the fields in which there are opportunities for broadening bilateral trade is that of textile raw material imports from Egypt. The Arab country is a large producer of cotton, yarn, textiles, and clothing. Egyptian cotton enjoys worldwide renown for its high quality.

"Textile companies in Santa Catarina are seeking new market niches, comprised of consumers with a higher income," says Cunha, according to whom the Egyptian raw materials can be used in the manufacturing of these higher value-added products. Besides the seminar, which took place in the morning, this afternoon there was also a meeting with companies based in Santa Catarina. One such company was Teka, a maker of bed and bath linen. According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who took part in the activities, the company showed interest in the Egyptian products, and requested contacts of possible suppliers of raw material.

Last year, according to the president at the Fiesc Chamber of Technology, bilateral trade between Egypt and Santa Catarina stood at US$ 8.5 million, of which US$ 7.2 million consisted of exports from the state and US$ 1.3 million of Egyptian sales to the Brazilian state. This amount of US$ 8.5 million, according to Cunha, is still very small. "There are many different business opportunities," he told ANBA by telephone, after the activities took place in Florianópolis. Brazil, according to him, can export machinery, equipment, and electronic products. And Egypt, says Cunha, can sell textile raw materials, pharmaceutical products, and petroleum derivatives to Brazil.

Cunha claimed that he was surprised to find, for instance, that Egypt has an excellent pharmaceutical industry. The information was disclosed by the Egyptian trade consul in São Paulo (southeast Brazil), Mohamed Bakri Agami, who gave a lecture during the meeting. The seminar was promoted by the Egyptian Trade Office in São Paulo, the Arab Brazilian Chamber, and Fiesc, and is part of a series of meetings that are being promoted throughout Brazil, aimed at fostering Egyptian exports. During the meeting, Bakri also offered his country as a destination for Brazilian investments, as Egypt has trade agreements and can be a gateway to other regions, such as the other Arab countries and the African and European nations.

The consul also talked about the tourist sector in Egypt. Cunha said Brazil and his state have much to learn from Egypt in this field. "The figures of the Egyptian tourism industry are almost frightening," he told ANBA, in a reference to the sector's turnover in the North African country. Brazil, according to him, can learn from Egypt how to attract and cater to a demanding, high-level public. According to Cunha, businessmen from Santa Catarina intend to use this open channel with Egypt after the seminar. An initial commitment, according to him, is information exchange about technical regulations for each market.

According to Alaby, very good contacts were made during the meeting in Santa Catarina. Participation in the promotion of these meetings, according to him, is part of the actions developed by the Arab Brazilian Chamber to provide incentives to the import of Arab products to Brazil. Similar seminars about potential business with Egypt will take place in other regions of the country until the end of the year. Up to now seminar "Business Opportunities with Egypt" has already been promoted in Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (all in the South).


Source: © ANBA 2003