The Furniture Industry Association of Bento Gonçalves (Sindmóveis) is one of the organizations supporting the Foreign Trade Meetings (Encomex), an event aimed at small and medium-sized companies that plan to start or expand their participation in foreign markets. The program of the event includes workshops and lectures focusing on the economic vocation of Serra Gaucha – which includes grapes and wine, furniture, footwear, cutlery, textiles, clothes, semi-jewels, metalworking and tourism.   The event will also be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to ask specific questions about foreign trade and resolve issues with experts of the Department of Foreign Trade of MDIC. The form to schedule an appointment from 10 am to 6 pm with an agent of MDIC are available at Encomex website.    The president of Sindmóveis, Cátia Scarton, highlights the importance of exports for furniture companies based in Bento Gonçalves, which have been seeking conditions for global competitiveness through investment in design. She explains that the local furniture has complete production facilities, versatile network of suppliers, technological centers which provide strong support for research and development in addition to institutions dedicated to the training of skilled human resources. “With the support of organizations like Apex-Brasil and opportunities to exchange knowledge like Encomex, we plan to steadily expand exports of the furniture industry and their suppliers,” she says.   Encomex will be held on November 29 at Parque de Eventos in Bento Gonçalves starting at 9 am. Register free of charge at www.encomex.mdic.gov.br.