Brazil targets over USD 415m in business showcasing 114 companies at Gulfood 2022

• The traditional participant of the fair is a consolidated partner in the region expects to generate more than USD 415 million in business

Dubai: South American nation Brazil showcases the best in their beverage and food exports bringing 114 companies to the 26^th edition of Gulfood, which is taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Brazil has been participating in the world’s largest F&B exhibition for over seven years reaffirming its role as a partner in the Middle East.

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) are bringing 67 companies, out of these 114 participants present at their National, Beverage, Grain, Meat, and Chicken pavilions. Another 30 are bought by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), with whom the Agency develops the international promotion of the sector; and another 17 are under the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC), with whom the Agency also promotes the internationalization of the sector.

Commenting on this, Mr. Lucas Fiuza, Business Director of ApexBrasil, said, “We arrive at the Gulfood with 114 companies and two daily cooking shows. Being the traditional participant of the fair taking place in Dubai, we are a consolidated partner in the region and expect to generate more than USD 415 million in business.”

“Dubai is a commercial hub for the Middle East for its strategic location and business environment. Individually, the UAE jumped from 22^nd place among Brazil’s top buyers in 2017 to 15^th place in 2019, with a 1.34 percent share of the total (USD 1.35 billion),” Fiuza said.

Talking to TheBrew, the president of Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) Celso Luiz Moretti said, “Brazil is investing in innovation and research for food and meat industry. We are really glad to see that Brazil has not only the maximum number of companies in gulfood, but they are also developed in advancement and innovation too. In 70’s we are completely dependent on imports in terms of food security, because of our approach towards innovation and scientific research in food processing, today Brazil is a powerhouse in the production of food fiber and bioenergy.       

This year, Brazil focuses on showcasing the healthy dessert açaí. The National Pavilion is decorated with motifs of the fruit and tasting of the product, specially customized by a Brazilian chef. Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of açaí in the world.

Of the total exported food products of Brazil in 2019, about 90 percent contemplate the sectors of meat, sugar, and alcohol complex, cereals, and soy complex. This proves a high concentration in these products and validates the need for greater diversification and support to other sectors such as coffee, fruits, processed foods, sweets, and beverages.

In addition, the National Pavilion space will have two daily cooking shows with the Brazilian chef Bruno Ambar. At the Beverages Pavilion, there will be a special menu of mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) inspired by Brazilian music; coffee and drinks based on it, açaí, and others.

To take advantage of Expo 2020 Dubai, ApexBrasil is also holding a cooking show with chef Thiago Castanho, who is presenting a menu with delicacies from the Amazon region at the Gulfood on February 17, establishing a bridge between the two events in which Brazil is prominently present.

To explore more opportunities, Gulfood 2022 is opening to Brazilian companies, ApexBrasil is making use of the digital platform Brazil Business Match (BBM). Hosted on the BBM website, the platform serves to simplify the search and access to the Brazilian market and opens the possibility for meetings to take place between international buyers and Brazilian companies since the match can evolve into a business meeting within the tool.

The virtual environment has another advantage for Brazilian exhibitors: a physical business card with a QR code that can be distributed by the company’s representative to interested buyers visiting the fair. Thus, the contact does not necessarily need to be made at that moment. By accessing the QR code, the importer is directed to the tool so that contacts can continue to be made on the web, as well as subsequent business meetings.