Dubai, May 10 (IANS/WAM): About 200 Brazilian companies are participating in a three-day trade fair that opened here Sunday.

Trade between Brazil and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon rose to about $6 billion in 2009.

Brazil exported $5.14 billion worth of goods to the region and imported $1.75 billon worth of goods. Agricultural and allied sectors, construction material, automotive parts, consumer durables and furniture comprised some of Brazil's diversified offerings to the Arab world.

"Over the years, the Middle East has become one of Brazil's key markets and we have made considerable efforts to ensure that our products and services match the unique needs of the region," said Mauricio Borges, business director of Apex-Brazil, the organizers of the expo.

Brazil is a major source of food products for the Gulf. As a major property development hub, the Gulf also represents a solid housing and construction market for Brazil, which traded around $132 million in related products with the region in 2009.

Brazilian ambassador to the UAE Raul Campos Castro inaugurated the expo at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai.