Brazilian exports to UAE grow 13% to reach over $2.45bn in 2012

Trade activities between the two countries continue to expand, with Brazilian exports to the UAE increasing by 13.3% from over $2.16bn in 2011 to more than $2.45bn in 2012, according to figures from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).

A hosted buyer's programme for interested importers and trading companies from the Middle East is one of the highlights of the Trade Mission, which is organized by Apex-Brasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade under the patronage of the Brazilian Ambassador to the UAE. A business meeting in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will also be organized on February 18 as part of the Trade Mission, which will be attended by companies from key sectors including food & beverage, housing and construction, machinery & equipment and auto parts. The event on February 20 is strictly for UAE companies, while the event on the 21st is for regional hosted buyers from Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Iraq.

Apex-Brasil is also organising seminars on "Venture Capital & Private Equity" at the Jumeirah Tower Hotels in Dubai and at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The seminars are supported by the Brazilian Ministries of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and of External Relations, National Confederation of Industry and Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.

Mauricio Borges, president of Apex-Brasil, organiser of the Trade Mission, said, "The enthusiastic response that we have received from the UAE and Brazilian companies for the upcoming fifth edition of the Brazilian Trade Mission to the UAE manifests the lucrative prospects that have now emerged in light of the growing trade activities between the two countries. Now in its fifth edition, the Trade Mission certainly remains an important B2B matchmaking event that helps unlock more growth opportunities for UAE and Brazilian business enterprises."

Tatiana Lacerda Prazeres, Secretary of Foreign Trade of Brazil said: "The growing trade activities between Brazil and its partners in the Middle East, particularly the UAE, clearly reflects the strong bilateral relations that Brazil has nurtured across the region. Trade relations with the UAE has been especially robust as a result of our proactive efforts to create networking platforms that bring together key industry players from both countries to interact and explore mutually beneficial business opportunities."

Participants of the 5th Brazilian Trade Mission to the UAE will benefit from direct buying opportunities from qualified sellers, while the event will also facilitate various one-to-one meetings that create opportunities to build partnerships and distribution agreements with qualified sellers as well as extending personal network among industry peers.