May 25, 2006

Brazil to showcase its beef in Algeria next month
 

Brazil is sending representatives to the Algiers International Fair held in the capital of Algeria from Jun 1- Jun 8. Besides showing how halal slaughter is carried out in Brazil, representatives would be extolling the benefits of Brazilian meat.

The Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) and Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras), responsible for halal slaughter in the country would be taking part, according to Abiec spokesperson Luciana Luiz Casanova,

Algeria, being an African Arab country, requires cows to be slaughtered in the halal way, the way prescribed in Islam.

Brazilian beef exports to Algeria shot up 69 percent last year, hitting a total of US$108 million, before foot and mouth disease in Brazil put a stop to exports.  

Algeria began allowing partial imports in March this year. So far, only US$4.2 million worth of beef has been imported.

Abiec's Brazilian cattle beef marketing programme would also be introduced to Algeria and members intend to market the benefits of beef feed on Brazilian grazing grounds. 

Food items constitutes 22 percent of Algeria's annual imports, according to the secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, thus giving Brazilian beef greater potential to expand in the country.

Last year, Algiers International Fair received one million visitors, with 15,000 exhibitors from 35 countries in Europe, America and Africa.