36 2016 At the end of November last year the National Highway Implement Manufacturers Association (Anfir) signed an agreement with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). Initially valid for one year, the partnership aims to promote exports of highway implements and encourage competitiveness and technological innovation, says Igor Brandão, Project Coordinator at Apex-Brasil. Alcides Braga, the president of Anfir, says the situation on the domestic market coupled with the favorable exchange rate led to the agreement. “Highway implement exports account for only a small share of the industry’s revenues.3,436 trailers and semitrailers were exported last year, mainly to Paraguay, Chile, Angola, Uruguay and Bolivia. It is a path already trodden by some pioneering companies that have proven the acceptance of Brazilian products in the international market,” he says. As a result of this partnership, Anfir and Apex-Brasil set up a steering committee to boost exports using strategic efforts guided by the agency. The initial focus is on Latin American markets and two lines of action will be adopted, Project Seller and Project Buyer (business rounds in Brazil and the target countries). “In Project Seller the steering committee will organize a business round in Colombia, to be held later in the first half of the year. In Project Buyer, Apex-Brail and Anfir will hold a meeting in São Paulo with Latin American businesspeople to introduce Brazilian companies,” explains Mário Rinaldi, managing director of Anfir. “In addition, the project will coordinate Brazilian participation in Expo Mina, which takes place in Peru between September 14 and 16, with its own pavilion,” he adds. With experience of several partnerships with industry organizations, Apex is optimistic about the agreement. Brandão says being a country that transports goods primarily by road, Brazil’s highway implement industry has developed expertise and production capacity. “The agency expects to increase exports by the end of 2016, working with Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Angola as priority markets and with Mexico, UAE, Argentina and Algeria as secondary markets,” he says. Anfir’s prospects are good. Among the benefits for members, Braga mentions international expansion by most companies in the sector, which will contribute positively to Brazil’s trade balance and the product’s image abroad. “Being present in the international market expands the range of the business, which is what every businessperson wants - even more so now with the crisis we are suffering in the domestic market,” he says. Steps towards the international market In partnership with Apex-Brasil, Anfir has promoted Brazilian highway implements to potential international buyers. The goal is to increase exports Exportações Exports
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