Brazil brings innovation to the Big 5 Show

Brazilian companies from the ceramic tiles, stones, granites and marbles, metals, bathroom fittings and locks sectors, as well as several construction-related products, will be available at the Brazil Pavilion. All the companies at the show will be presenting innovative and distinguished products available for the Arab market.

Maurício Borges, Business Director of Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), said:

"It is a privilege for us to be returning to the Big 5 Show with the Brazil Pavilion. It gives us a fantastic chance to showcase the country's construction materials, with everything from stones and granites to bathroom fittings and locks sectors."

Those attending the show can discover more about the powerful Brazilian building industry whose 2008 income will amount to $46.2bn, according to an analysis made by the Brazilian Association of Construction Material (Abramat).

Ornamental stone company, Somibra will have its own mine for the exotic granite known as "blue sodalite", a translucent stone with a stunningly beautiful shade of blue. On the other hand, Micapel offers slates of different colours and also offers technology to apply stones on floors, kitchens, staircases, mosaics, and even on roofs.

In addition, Gyotoku will bring the porcelain tile "Croma Travertino", while Casagrande (another national manufacturer of ceramic tiles) will exhibit its collection "Madeiea e Legno", which reproduces the fine texture of woods like cherry wood, mahogany and ivory.

In the bathroom fittings field, one of the main highlights is Forusi. Metallic pieces manufactured by the company receive a special engraving with several designs of flowers or other motives ordered to bespoke designs requested by customers.

"It is fantastic to have companies such as Somibra, Gyotoku and Forusi here as part of the Brazil Pavilion at the Big 5 Show. The fact that these companies are representing our country here in Dubai only goes to show the diversity our construction industry has to offer," said Borges.

The civil construction production chain is one of the engines for growth in Brazil, which recorded a GDP of $1.314bn in 2007. Whereas the country grew 3.8% in the comparison between 2005 and 2006 and 5.4% between 2006 and 2007, the construction chain recorded even more expressive figures: 4.7% and 7.9%, respectively.

Between 2005 and 2007, the Brazilian civil construction industry vigorously resumed its activities. The chain's added value rose by 11% during the period, and investment in construction increased 22.5%. This boom has been reflected in foreign trade. According to the ratings from the Brazilian Association of Construction Material (ABRAMAT), Brazil exported approximately $2.8bn in 2007 and it is predicted that by September 2008 the export of construction material will have achieved $2.3bn through items such as iron, steel, ceramics, rocks, doors and windows.

Assisting the country's GDP has been the production of ornamental rocks, which totaled approximately 8.3 million tones in 2007. The rocks include granite, marble, quartzite blocks, slabs, slate and soap stone.

Apex-Brasil - Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency, which is responsible for the promotion of Brazilian products and services in the international market, has been providing support to internationalize Brazilian companies and help attract investments to the country.

Apex-Brasil has helped expand the number of exporting companies, open new markets for national products and services, and reinforce the Brazilian presence in traditional markets. Apex-Brasil has a business centre in Dubai.

Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will support Brazilian participation in Big 5 Show too. Representing the League of Arab States in Brazil, the institution which represents 22 independent countries, whose official language is Arabic, the Arab Chamber integrates the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture for Arab Countries and is the only legitimate representative of the commercial interests of the countries represented by it.

"Always aiming to open new markets, once more the participation of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce at BIG 5 provides confidence to Brazilian exporter companies, which are already used to the traditional support provided by the entity in other negotiations with the Arab world," points out Rubens Hannun, vice-president of marketing of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.