Brazilian cattle beef is going to be promoted in Algeria at the beginning of next month. The Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) and Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras), responsible for halal slaughter in the country, are going to participate in Algiers International Fair.
The fair will take place between June 1 and 8 in the capital of the African Arab country. They will participate in a stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
According to the technical spokesperson at the Abiec, Luciana Luiz Casanova, the trip will serve to show how halal slaughter, which follows Muslim rules, is executed in Brazil and to show the quality of the cattle beef produced in the country.
Brazil already sells cattle beef to Algeria. Last year exports totaled US$ 108 million, with growth of 69% over the previous year. "We want to establish the economic integration that already exists," stated Luciana, who participated in a preparatory meeting for the fair at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce yesterday.
Algeria was one of the countries that stopped importing meat from Brazil due to cases of foot and mouth disease registered in the country last year. In March this year, however, imports were partially started again.
The Arab country returned to buying boneless meat from Brazil, except for that from 15 states. Algeria had not officially embargoed Brazilian meat, but was not granting import licenses. Algerian participation in Brazilian cattle beef purchases was 3.1% in 2005.
At Algiers International Fair, the Abiec and Fambras are going to talk to visitors about the characteristics of the Brazilian cattle herd, covering the raising of cattle on grazing ground, something normal in the country and that makes the meat healthier.
Abiec has a Brazilian cattle beef marketing program called Brazilian Beef, also to be showed in Algeria. According to the figures supplied by the Abiec, the Algerians imported just US$ 4.2 million in cattle beef between January and April this year.
According to the secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, Algeria is a potential market for food produced in Brazil.
"Foods represent 22% of Algerian imports," stated Alaby. Last year Algeria imported a total of US$ 22.5 billion in products in general. The Arab country’s main trade partners are France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United States, China and Turkey.
The Brazilian stand at Algiers International Fair will include, apart from Abiec and Fambras, the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel), Tangará, a producer of powdered milk, Starret, a maker of tools as well as Rimo and Divicar, furniture producers. The fair is visited by importers from various countries in the region, mainly from Africa.
Last year, Algiers International Fair received one million visitors, among them 15,000 businessmen and businesswomen. The fair had exhibitors from 35 countries in Europe, America and Africa. There were 1,300 foreign and 600 Algerian exhibitors. The fair covers an area of one million square meters.
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