São Paulo – Cyprus’ new ambassador to Brazil, Vasilios Philippou, took up his post in the capital Brasília in September and said he intends to make Brazilians get to know his country better and vice versa. He said during the five years of his stint in Brazil, he would work to expand trade and tourism between the countries.
Cyprus is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea and a European Union member. In a strategic location, it sits close to the Arab nations of the Levant and North Africa. The island is located south of Turkey, west of Lebanon and Syria, and north of Egypt. Its official languages are Greek and Turkish.
On a visit to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) headquarters in São Paulo, Philippou was received by the entity’s president, ambassador Osmar Chohfi (pictured above), secretary-general & CEO Tamer Mansour and director of Institutional Relations Fernanda Baltazar.
The president of the Brazil-Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, Adriano Salinas, and the honorary consul of Cyprus to São Paulo, César Augusto de Aguiar, accompanied Philippou. The Brazil-Cyprus Chamber was created shortly before the outbreak of the pandemic. Its headquarters are next to the consulate in São Paulo’s financial district, Avenida Paulista.
The Brazil-Cyprus Chamber of Commerce’s first task will be advertising Cyprus among Brazilians, showcasing its products, services, and tourism possibilities with its stunning beaches, archaeological sites, and ancient ruins. In a second step, it will seek to promote the productive sector. Cyprus’ main produce is goat cheese. According to Aguiar, the country is the easiest and fastest way to enter the EU.
Philippou said his work in Brazil would be to “increase bilateral diplomatic, economic, cultural, and tourism relations between the two countries, respecting different cultures, promoting peace and prosperity between our countries.”
The ambassador said he is optimistic about the possible approval of a Mercosur-European Union free trade agreement, which would certainly boost trade between the countries.
As for promoting Cyprus as a tourist destination, the ambassador said he is working towards the possibility of a nonstop flight from São Paulo to Paphos. Today, it is possible to reach the country through France, Germany, the United Kingdom, or other European countries, said Philippou.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
