JEDDAH – The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), an agency that promotes Brazilian products and services abroad, will leverage at the Gulfood 2014 the robust food and beverage trade between Brazil and the region to further strengthen the bilateral relations with the UAE. According to statistics released by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, food exports from Brazil reached $5.3 billion in 2013 – depicting an increase of 6.62 per cent from the previous year. Apex-Brasil CEO Michel Abdo Alaby said: “Last year, Brazil and GCC trade relations reached around US $11 billion. The most important partner to Brazil is Saudi Arabia, with $6 billion; the second is UAE with $3 billion. Our exports are concentrated on meat, chicken, sugar, coffee, soya bean, corn, and concentrated juice.” Brazil has announced its participation as a Platinum Sponsor of Gulfood 2014, the world's biggest annual food and hospitality show, which is taking place at the Dubai World trade Centre (DWTC). The 2014 event sees 77 Brazilian companies participate, representing eight sectors and the CCAB (Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, which has expressed confidence in exceeding the US $150 million worth of deals signed at last year's event. This figure later helped drive total export values totaling $483 million in 2013. Alaby also revealed that between 2003 and 2013, trade between the two countries has increased by 400 percent. The business director of Apex-Brasil, Ricardo Santana, said: “Brazil has witnessed a flourishing bilateral trade relationship with the Arab region with increasing demand for Brazilian meat products, sugar, coffee and spices, among others. Gulfood is an ideal platform to showcase our offerings to the Arab consumers and sign deals to further boost our trading relations. The highlight of our participation at Gulfood 2014 will be the live demonstration of recipes prepared by Brazilian chefs using Brazilian products. During the exhibition, we will bring Brazilian companies to visit the UAE's leading supermarket chains to meet the officials and buyers.” The Brazilian pavilion at this year's show is spread across 711 square meters with an adjoining mezzanine space that spans 311 square meters. The mezzanine area will feature cooking demonstrations, networking activities and product samplings. – SG
