Brazilian micro and small business see significant opportunities in the UAE and regard the country as a gateway to the broader MENA region, executives from Sebrae, the Brazilian micro, and small business support service, told a Brazilian business event in Dubai. Sebrae took part in the Brazil-United Arab Emirates Prospective Business Mission to cultivate opportunities for Brazilian companies in the UAE.
At the opening of the “How to do business with the United Arab Emirates” seminar of the Brazil-United Arab Emirates Prospective Business Mission, Sebrae president, Carlos Melles, reiterated the potential of Brazil’s small businesses to serve the UAE and MENA.
He said Sebrae has a fundamental role in expanding the number and value of exports by small businesses, training entrepreneurs, and ensuring that their products and services adhere to international standards. “We are preparing Brazilian companies for internationalization, increasing the amount of exporting business and the value being traded,” said Melles.
Melles pointed out that Expo 2020 in Dubai will enhance Brazilian firms’ understanding of the MENA market, thanks to Dubai’s position as the region’s principal trading hub. “There is a wide variety of opportunities, and Expo 2020 is an ideal platform for attracting partnerships and investors. I believe our efforts will open a huge market for our micro and small companies,” he adds.
During the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, owners of micro and small Brazilian businesses will participate in a variety of activities. Sebrae is inviting entrepreneurs with export potential from Paraná, So Paulo, Minas Gerais, Pará, Ceará, Rondônia, and the Tocantins to the event, in collaboration with other Brazilian government bodies, to present them to the regional market.
Brazil’s 18.2 million micro and small firms account for 99 percent of all businesses in the country and have created 70% of all jobs since the start of the year. They bring in an estimated $880,000 in annual revenue and account for 30% of the country’s GDP.
“We believe there is enormous potential in the region, and this potential can be transformed into concrete opportunities,” said Eduardo Diogo, Sebrae’s Director of Administration and Finance.
Diogo said there were also opportunities for information sharing between UAE and Brazil entrepreneurs around sustainability and mobility, two of the three Expo 2020 themes. “Brazil has a very close relationship with nature, and sustainability is crucial for us as a nation. Mobility is also a challenge for all the big cities globally, such as San Paulo, which has almost 20 million residents. So, the transport sector can benefit greatly from the insights gathered at the Expo,” Diogo said.
While the Middle East already imports large volumes of Brazilian açai and cosmetics, Sebrae feels that tourism services and energy-related technology have particularly tremendous growth potential.
Brazilian exports to the region increased from $8.8 billion in 2020 to $12.27 billion this year. Micro and small businesses, according to Sebrae, accounted for at least 40% of this commerce.
Sebrae has formed ties with organizations such as the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil) and the National Confederation of Industry in various Brazilian states and inked agreements with them (CNI). These networks provide small firms with an excellent opportunity to expand their export market involvement while also supporting entrepreneurs in aligning their products with global standards.
Sebrae and CNI recently released a collaborative study that identified the primary export markets and their buyers. Clothing, food, canned fruits and vegetables, furnishings, soaps, detergents, cleaning products, cosmetics, fragrance, and personal care products are only a few examples. In all of Brazil’s states, the research found 50 areas with strong export potential.
