The initiatives taken by Orchestra Brasil, a project to encourage exports organized by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) in partnership with Sindmóveis Bento Gonçalves, have boosted the business scope of suppliers to the furniture sector in foreign markets. In a scenario with a sharp fall of exports of the Brazilian industry in the first half of 2015, the amount of exports in dollars of the member companies fell 4.1%, while for those companies that are not part of the project they dropped by 33.2%.

 Additionally, between 2010 and 2014, the project increased from 40 to 76 destinations. During this period, the growth of the amounts exported in dollar by the member companies was 156.3% higher than for non-member entreprises. Companies like Jimo Química, based in Cachoeirinha, are investing in the participation in fairs and relationship initiatives promoted by the project to strengthen their presence in South American countries and establish new targets for their exports. Recently, Jimo Química received the 43th sector-based Export Award RS for its performance last year.

By taking part in the project Jimo strengthened its business in markets such as Uruguay, Paraguay, Angola and Guatemala. Their major destination in Central America, Guatemala maintains growing business with the company. Jimo entered other markets in South America, including Colombia and Peru,  thanks to the support of the Orchestra Brasil Project. Customers in these countries were driven by their participation in M&M Bogota and Fenafor Peru. Jimo expects to grow their exports in dollars by least 25% compared to 2014.

New markets

According to the executive manager of the Orchestra Brasil Project, Denise Valduga, in addition to the strong presence in markets in the Americas, another example of the successful partnership provided by this project is the 136% growth in export by the member companies to Turkey between 2013 and 2014. "This performance demonstrates the excellent job of ranking and prioritizing markets that was developed through a partnership with Apex-Brasil," she says.

The Orchestra Brasil Project has been carried out since 2006 promoting the competitive inclusion of suppliers to the woodworking sector in the international market. To achieve this goal it promotes market research, missions to prospect markets, individual actions, Buyer’s Projects, Seller’s Projects and Image projects, in addition to taking part in major world trade fairs. Currently, Orchestra Brasil comprises 74 manufacturers of supplies, accessories, raw materials, components and technologies for the furniture industry.