A 1500 m2 distribution centre for Brazilian products such as shoes, garments, food, drinks, medical and hospital equipment and other organic non-perishable goods is going to be established in the centre of Frankfurt. The facility, which should start operating in April, will be used by small- and medium-sized Brazilian businesses. Besides storing goods, the centre will operate as a business centre with showroom facilities.
Juan Quirós, president of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), explained that Brazil already operates two similar centres, one in Miami and another in Dubai. "The results are fantastic," said Mr Quirós who is currently negotiating incentives for participating Brazilian companies such as a reduction of the rent payable for the premises.
Plans to set up a subsidiary of Apex-Brasil in Germany, which will be in charge of operating the distribution centre, are already under way with the institutional support of German organisations. Simultaneously, in Brazil, seminars and roadshows will be held to explain to Brazilian companies what the advantages of participating in the project are.
APEX-Brasil already has over 150 interested companies on file. The shoe sector has confirmed that it will hold a business round with German importers and distributors in May.
The agreement was signed by Juan Quirós, by the CEO of Hessen Agentur, Dieter Kreuziger, by the General Director of Frankfurtheinmain (International Market of the Frankfurt Region), Hartmut Schwesinger, and by the General Director of Frankfurt Economic Development GmbH, Urda Martens-Jeebe. Also present were the Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, and the German State Secretary for Economy and Technology, Bernd Pfaffenbach.
