São Paulo – Nearly 40 business executives attended the lecture by Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce CEO Michel Alaby (right in the picture above) at the Federation of Industries of the State of Mato Grosso (FIEMT), in Cuiabá, last Friday (21). He discussed trade between Brazil and the Arab countries and shared tips on how to do business with companies in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Most of them are interested [in the Arab market], since the state [of Mato Grosso] produces cereals and meats,” Alaby told ANBA this Tuesday (25). Poultry, beef, maize and soy are among the main products exported by Brazil to the Arab countries, and Mato Grosso is one of Brazil’s major agricultural hubs.
From January to August of this year, exports from the state to Arab countries totaled nearly USD 600 million, according to the Arab Chamber, with maize, soy beans, bran and oil, beef and poultry making up most of these exports. Mato Grosso accounted for 8.5% of total exports by Brazil to the region in the period.
“Many people came to ask us how to negotiate with the Arab countries,” said Alaby. FIEMT president José Milan (center in the picture above) opened the event.
The seminar was attended by the head of Egypt’s Economic and Commercial Office in São Paulo, Mohamed Elkhatib (left in the picture), who talked about the business environment in his country, the Mercosur-Egypt Free Trade Agreement – in effect since last year – and the opportunities for exporting Egyptian products to Brazil.
According to Alaby, they also discussed the possibility of organizing a trade mission from the state to the Arab countries.
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani