São Paulo – The new ambassador of Morocco to Brazilian capital Brasília, Mohamed Louafa, wants to provide incentives to Brazilian imports from the Arab country in an attempt to level the balance of trade, which currently generates a surplus to Brazil. "My main mission is to expand imports from Morocco and to attract Brazilian investment to my country," said the ambassador to ANBA.
Louafa, who was inaugurated in the post on February 19th, visited yesterday (14th) the installations of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in São Paulo. He was accompanied by the consul of Morocco to São Paulo, Hilton Peña, and Arab Brazilian Chamber director Mustapha Abdouni, who is also the honorary consul of Jordan to São Paulo.
From January to April, exports from Brazil to Morocco generated US$ 191.5 million, which represented an increase of 37% over the same period last year. On the other hand, Brazilian imports from the Arab country totalled US$ 35.19 million, as against US$ 307.27 million imported in the first four months of 2008.
The main Brazilian products exported to Morocco were sugar, maize, soy, tractors, iron and wood. From the Arab country, Brazil imported mainly phosphates and their products, and sardines. According to the ambassador, Morocco has much more to offer to Brazil, like agricultural and textile products. "We already have several agreements with Brazil in sectors like the economy, agriculture, politics and investment protection. Brazil has been our partner for a long time," he said.
According to Louafa, the embassy of Morocco was one of the first from the Arab countries to establish itself in Brazil. "There was already an embassy of Morocco since the time in which Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil," he said. Another of the ambassador’s targets is attracting Brazilian investment to the Arab country, mainly in the agricultural sector. "We have a great project for soy cultivation. We may exchange experience and technology with Brazil," he said.
Early this week, the ambassador visited Rio Grande do Sul, where he met with governor Yeda Crusius. At the occasion, topics discussed included cooperation between the state and the Arab country, mainly in agriculture.
In the area of tourism, the ambassador said that there are already plans to establish a direct flight between Rio de Janeiro and Casablanca, as was the case in the past. "We are currently in negotiation," he said, recalling that it is not necessary for visitors from each of the countries to have visas to visit the other.
Louafa, aged 58, is not a trained diplomat. Before starting his career as an ambassador, he was a professor at Mohamed V University, in Rabat. His first position as ambassador was in India, where he spent five years. After that, he spent three years in Iran.
*Translated by Mark Ament
