São Paulo – The dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, and the CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, visited Macapá, the capital of Amapá state, last Friday (16) and attended meetings with representatives from the government and the private sector.
“It was a prospecting visit and we were very pleased,” said Alzeben, who is also the ambassador of Palestine. The Arab diplomats are used to travelling throughout Brazil to get to know up close the real situation of each state, especially concerning economic potential. The invitation for the visit came from congresswoman Jozi Araújo (PTN-AP).
They also visited the Port of Santana, in the Amazon river, located near the access to the Atlantic Ocean. “The port has a strategic geographical location, near the Panama Canal,” said Alzeben. “It’s only a seven-day trip [by ship] to Europe,” added Alaby. This year, up until November, exports of wood pulp, wood chips, kaolin and soy went through the sea port.
Alzeben and Alaby were welcomed by governor Waldez Góes (of party PDT), secretaries of state and local entrepreneurs. According to the ambassador, government and private sector representatives went over the potential of the state of Amapá in agriculture and livestock farming, mining and services.
“I believe that if someone is interested in investing, the state offers excellent opportunities, for there is a lot to be done,” said the diplomat, stressing the vast untapped economic potential of this part of the Amazon.
Alaby added that the state is a potential supplier of food products like soy and meats to Arab countries, as well as Amazon fruits and livestock. By the end of November this year, Amapá had exported USD 21 million worth of goods to Arab countries, up 13% from the same months in 2015. Gold was the only item sold, and the United Arab Emirates was the sole buying country.
According to Alaby, attending the meetings were sellers of indigenous fruits like Brazil nut, açaí, cupuaçu, taperebá and graviola who wish to export to Arab countries. “The Arab Brazilian Chamber will publicize existing trade and investment opportunities in the state,” he said.
Alzeben, in turn, intends to hold a Council of Arab Ambassadors meeting in Brasília next January in order to welcome governor Waldez Góes.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani & Gabriel Pomerancblum
