The growth rates of Brazil’s Manaus Free Zone (Zona Franca de Manaus) have reached 32.67% in the first half of this year. The importance of this region as a job and fund generator was the main topic yesterday during the opening of the 2nd Amazon International Fair (FIAM 2004).
by Tomas Chiaverini
The superintendent of the Free Zone, Flávia Grosso, stated that recent growth rates are very good. A total of 10,000 direct jobs have been generated.
The sectors that have provided the greatest impulse to the domestic industry are appliances, computer products, motorcycles, chemical industry, and thermoplastics, according to Ms Grosso.
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez, the Brazilian minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, and Eduardo Braga, the governor of the state of Amazonas, in northern Brazil, of which Manaus is the capital, also participated in the event.
Integration and growth of various countries in the Amazon region was also discussed at the opening of the event. “The current moment is providing us with hope to go on doing much for our countries,” stated Lula.
The fair began yesterday with the exhibition of items produced in the region. Apart from the show, there will be 15 seminars and two workshops.
The stands will include from electronic products, cell phones, computers, televisions, industrial components, and motorcycles to typical regional products like handcraft, guaraná, and native mashed fruit.
The second edition of the fair, to go on up to September 18 (Saturday), should surpass the first in terms of exhibitors, which have risen from 194 to 241, and in terms of number of foreign visitors.
A total of 253 foreign visitors participated last year, and 300 are forecasted this year. It is also expected that the business volume and the number of visitors should also be surpassed.
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency