A delegation of 25 Brazilian companies is visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, this week for the Brazil Africa Solutions (BAS) business mission. It’s being led by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) in partnership with trade promotion agencies from Angola (AIPEX), South Africa (DTIC), Mozambique (APIEX), and Tanzania (TanTrade).
The BAS, scheduled for June 13-15, aims to generate and strengthen trade opportunities between Brazil and those countries. Planned activities include networking events, technical visits, and business rounds with international buyers from those four countries. The agenda also includes a prospective visit to the 21st edition of Africa’s Big 7, one of the continent’s largest food and beverage fairs.
The Brazilian delegation at BAS will be led by ApexBrasil’s Business Director, Ana Repezza, who is also expected to meet with representatives from the trade promotion agencies of Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania. “Since last year, Africa has once again become a priority for ApexBrasil. In 2024, we are resuming participation in the continent’s main trade events, such as the Luanda International Fair (FILDA) and the Mozambique International Trade Fair (FACIM), as well as Africa’s Big 7” explained Repezza.
The director also mentioned ApexBrasil’s 18 sector-specific projects focusing on countries in the continent across various economic sectors. “The business potentials are immense, and we aim to ensure development opportunities for both Brazil and African nations,” Repezza added. The 25 companies comprising the Brazilian delegation at BAS operate in sectors including food & beverages, cosmetics, baby care, household goods, home & construction, and machinery and equipment.
Participants will also visit markets, studios, and department stores in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, potentially interested in importing Brazilian products. Visits will occur in two parallel groups – one comprising companies from the home & construction and food sectors, and the other featuring producers of food and beverages, plastics, and cosmetics. Builders Warehouse, African Craft Market, Woolworths, and Makro are amongst the establishments set to receive the Brazilian groups.
In 2023, Brazilian exports to Africa reached a historic record of US$ 13.2 billion. African countries collectively rank as the fourth-largest destination for Brazilian exports, but there’s room to expand and diversify bilateral trade. Brazil’s export basket to the continent is concentrated in commodities, particularly products from the food and beverage complex (such as sugar, corn, poultry, soybeans, beef, and soybean oil), iron ore, and petroleum fuels. In addition to commodities, road vehicles are amongst the main exported products, with their sales contributing to the expansion of exports in 2023.
