Brasília, July 24, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Despite its inexpressive trade with Angola - only 5% of all products consumed by the Angolan population come from Brazil - Brazil should earn around US$ 7 million in the coming months as a result of increased sales to Angola of tiles, transformers, bathroom fixtures, radios, clothes, costume jewelry, shoes, personal hygiene products, home appliances, furniture, toys, and food products. The reason behind this increase is the growing participation by Brazilian companies in trade promotion missions and events, such as the Luanda International Fair (Filda), in Angola, one of the most important in Africa.

This year, over 60 Brazilian firms, advised by the Export Promotion Agency (Apex), closed deals worth approximately US$ 1.7 million at the Filda. In coming months another US$ 5.3 million should begin to arrive in Brazil as a result of negotiations with Angolan buyers. For one of the directors of Apex, Hélio Mauro França, the considerable interest of Angolans in Brazil (both were Portuguese colonies) should grow even more, since there are growth expectations for sectors with large demands - such as construction - that should stimulate the closing of new contracts. Last year the Brazilian firms that participated in the same fair generated business of only US$ 250 thousand at the event and US$ 4.9 million during the rest of the year. (DAS)