São Paulo – A commitment agreement for promoting business in the halal market from 2022 to 2025 was signed on Monday (4) by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) president Augusto Pestana and Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) president Osmar Chohfi during the opening session of the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries in São Paulo.
The agreement plans on training Brazil-based companies to operate in the halal market of products and services that are fit for Muslim consumption. Its goal is promoting halal products from Brazil overseas in activities organized in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, France and the United Arab Emirates by turning Brazil into a reference when it comes to halal products, making it stand out as the leading player in the sector, sharing relevant activities and results that could be spread overseas, designing a new halal industry project, fostering exports and breaking into new markets, and coordinating activities for attracting foreign investment to strengthen the halal productive chain and companies.
“This historic agreement between Apex and the ABCC will focus on promoting Brazilian halal products [overseas] and training Brazilian companies to get halal certified,” Pestana said in his speech during the opening of the forum.
The agency plans on assisting at least 200 halal-certified companies. The agreement is supported by the 18 diplomatic representations of the Foreign Relations Ministry in the 22 Arab League states to boost the dialogue between Brazilian commercial attachés and Arab private institutions. “We are on this path with different sectors such as food and beverage, security and defense, oil and natural gas, perfumery and cosmetics, and construction,” Pestana said.
He highlighted Apex’s work in the Brazilian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the world exhibition that ended last March. According to him, Brazil’s operations in the show are expected to bring in USD 4 billion in new business over the following months, particularly in food exports from Brazil to the UAE.
“Apex is committed to attracting Arab investment to Brazil,” Pestana said. He added that there is a capital surplus in the Arab countries that could be put in opportunities in Brazil, particularly in the infrastructure and food industries. “Our task is to do this matchmaking,” he said.
The Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries is held by the ABCC in partnership with the Union of Arab Chambers, supported by the League of Arab States and sponsored by Travel Plus, Brazil Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Fambras Halal, Embraer, Itaipu Technology Park, Pantanal Trading, Embratur, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), Cdial Halal, Modern Living, BRF, Egyzone/Am Development, Antika/Openet BV, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Egyptian Financial & Industrial Co. (EFIC), Suez Company for Fertilizers Production (SCFP), Boa Esperança Agriculture Cooperative (CAPEBE), Prima Foods, and Afrinvest.
Here’s more on the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
