Brazilian leather manufacturers look to grow exports by 200%
The Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Machinery for the Leather, Shoe and Allied Trades (ABRAMEQ), has renewed its contract with the Integrated Sectoral Program (PSI), which is run by the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (APEX).
The agreement means ABRAMEQ will have the PSI's financial support in its drive to increase its exports by 200% to $20.1 million over the next two years. The association aims to increase its exports by 32% to $8.9 million in 2003 and by 71% to $ 11.2 million in 2004, compared with September 2002 figures. It also hopes to increase the number of exporters and diversify into new markets; for instance some manufacturers are currently targeting the African and Arab markets.
According to Raul Ludwig, president of ABRAMEQ, exports in the last quarter of 2002 were 14% above target, standing at $24 million. Machinery exports increased from $2.8 million in 1997 to US$6.6 million in September 2002, compared to the year’s target of $7 million.
