Taking part in The International Fair of Wood and Technology (Fitecma) is an initiative carried out by the Orchestra Brasil Project this year to maintain trade relations with Argentina. Brasmacol, Crippa Máquinas, Lamiecco, Renner Sayerlack and Tecbril will exhibit their new products in a collective 70-m² booth that the project will have at the fair, held from 23 to 27 June at the Centro Costa Salguero in Buenos Aires. Orchestra Brasil is the project developed by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and Sindmóveis Bento Gonçalves to promote the exports of suppliers to the furniture industry.

Despite the continued ban on imports and restrictions on foreign trade, added to the economic stagnation in the country, Argentina is still the third largest Brazilian trade partner and, after the United States, it is the major buyer of Brazilian manufactured products. Regarding the companies participating in the Orchestra Brasil Project, Argentina was the second largest importer in 2014. The loss of relevance of the country in terms of exports of suppliers to the furniture industry began in 2013, with a decrease of 14.3% in sales to the neighboring country. Last year, exports to Argentina fell by 20.9%.

Taking part in Fitecma is considered strategic for member companies of the project, which take advantage of the fair to prospect new distributors and customers in Argentina and the surrounding area. Orchestra Brasil, a sector-based project, promotes the inclusion of suppliers to the woodworking industry and the sustainable entry of Brazilian design into the international market. To achieve this goal it organizes 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 companies and 50 design studios.