Brazil exporters beat target selling products alongside World Cup

The more than 1,000 Brazilian export companies that have been visiting German cities and using Brazil's soccer fame to sell products have already beaten their export sales target, a senior Brazilian official told media Frida.

The exporters are tackling 10 cities in Germany, which is hosting soccer's World Cup, and have already boosted Brazil's exports to Germany by 420 million U.S. dollars, or 10 percent. They are showing the world that Brazil's talents are not just based in football, but also in business, Juan Quiros, head of the country's Export Promotion Agency Apex, said on Friday.

Apex had set as 10 percent sales target for the whole campaign, which began in January and ends in July.

Quiros said wine sales grew 30 percent, compared with the same period in 2005, footwear sales grew 24 percent, and crafts sales grew 22 percent.

Apex is confident that Brazil will reach the final, and hired a Berlin publicity firm to promote the country and its products.

During the World Cup, Apex is going to promote cachaca, a Brazilian rum, via parties and contests for barmen.

Source: Xinhua