São Paulo – A delegation with twelve Arab diplomats operating in Brazil should visit the state of Santa Catarina on Thursday (26) and Friday (27). They should have meetings with the mayor of Florianópolis, Dário Elias Berger, with the governor of the state, Luiz Henrique da Silveira, with the president of the Santa Catarina State Courthouse, João Eduardo Varella, and with the president of the Legislative Assembly, Jorge dos Santos Mello.
The objective of the visit, organized by the government of Santa Catarina, is the evaluation of the potential of the state in the sectors of trade, tourism and investment. The secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, should accompany the group.
"Santa Catarina is currently the Brazilian state that has the most aggressive foreign policy,” stated Vinicius Lummertz, International Articulation secretary of the state. According to him, internationalisation of the economy is a priority for Santa Catarina. The secretary, who is going to participate in the meeting between the ambassadors and the governor, said that sectors like tourism, logistics, industry and real estate should be included in the meetings.
According to Waleed Al-Kandari, ambassador of Kuwait and deputy dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to Brasília, relations between Brazil and the Arab countries grew after the summit between Arab and South American nations, in 2005, and the visit to Santa Catarina is aimed at prospecting investment opportunities on both sides. "We also want to develop relations between Brazil and the Arab countries,” said Al-Kandari.
The ambassadors should also visit the works of resort Termas do Tabuleiro, in the city of Santo Amaro da Imperatriz. The enterprise belongs to company Baden Baden Hotels and Tourism, belonging to the Brazilian-naturalized Jordanian Bassan Giorge Necola Hanna and the Kuwaiti Khaled Rodan. Baden Baden is headquartered in Santa Catarina and the resort, which was launched in April 2008, should be inaugurated in 2012.
*Translated by Mark Ament
