The Brazilian car making industry, ranked among the largest in the world, is targeting growth in the Arab market, a senior official has said, according to Arabian Business.
The Brazilian auto industry, which is populated almost entirely by global brands including General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat, produced 3.2 million vehicles in 2008, is seeking to export more vehicles to the Middle East.
In the Arab world, the leading buyers of vehicles made in Brazil, in 2009, were Tunisia, which imported 1,816 automobiles, followed by Egypt, with 932 vehicles, and Syria, with 801 units.
Cledorvino Belini, chairman of the National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea), said there were opportunities for growth in the Arab markets where current exports are "very small."
In an interview with the Brazil-Arab News Agency, he said Brazilian automakers sold 3,891 cars to the Arab market last year.
He added that the figures represented a 5.8 percent decline over 2008 when 4,120 units were exported.
Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon also purchased Brazilian vehicles last year although Tunisia and Syria were the only two Arab countries that increased their imports.
