Upswing in Brazil makes electronicAmericas 2005 and FIEE a success

The electronicAmericas 2005 and FIEE trade shows set new attendee record

Exhibitors achieve trade-show sales volume of over 1.6 billion US dollars

A 28-percent growth rate for Brazil's electronics market gives the industry a boost

In April, Munich Fairs International and its event partner, Alcantara Machado, wrapped up electronicAmericas and FIEE in Sao Paulo, Brazil after setting a new record for the number of attendees. Over 49,000 visitors from the trade (2003: 46,000) attended electronicaAmericas, South America's leading trade show for electronic components and assemblies, electronics production and photonics. This event was held from April 25 through 29, 2005, at the Anhembi Park trade fair grounds in conjunction with FIEE, the region's leading trade show for the electrical and electronics industry. Overall, 1,051 exhibitors from 34 countries participated in this gathering, which is the electronics industry's most important event in the South American economic zone. The event proved to be very successful for the participants: Within the five days of the trade show, these companies generated a sales volume of more than 1.6 billion US dollars. For this reason, 87 percent of the exhibitors assessed electronicAmericas with FIEE as extremely positive.

"The result of the fair definitely surpassed our expectations," summed up Alfred Luthold, Director of ST Microelectronics. "We were able to demonstrate in a satisfactory way our products to potential new clients," he explained. "Furthermore, we were able to establish contact with a great number of small companies."

The trade show's outstanding position as a networking platform for South America's electronics industry was also confirmed by Erick Miranda, who is part of Tyco's marketing staff: "We believe that this year the event was, for us, very satisfactory. Although we did not mange to conclude new business, the event served to close our ties with our clients."

The reference figures for the electronics industry in Brazil, the most important free-market economy for South America, confirm that the companies that were active at electronicAmericas and FIEE are on the right track. The industry association ABINEE estimates last year's revenue in this sector at approximately 30 billion US dollars. This represents an increase of 28 percent over the figures from 2003. This above-average growth rate is due to the large infrastructure projects that the country began after its national elections and to the increased demand for electronics in individual segments, such as the automotive industry. According to ABINEE, this upwards tendency will continue: For the current year of 2005, the association predicts an additional 20-percent gain.

For this reason, enterprises who exhibited for the first time at electronicAmericas 2005, such as the company Universal, are convinced that their decision to participate was completely on the mark. "We obtained good contacts for future business," summed up  Marketing Manager Francis Borrego in commenting on the results of his company's participation: "Certainly we will be back in 2007."

The next edition of the electronicAmericas event, which is held every other year in conjunction with the FIEE, is planned for April 2007. As always, it will be taking place in the high-tech metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil.