São Paulo – The Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil is on a mission in the state of Pernambuco this week in order to get to know the area and engage in dialogue with local authorities and executives. “This will be our first visit to the state, and we hope to uncover exchange opportunities,” said the Council’s dean and Palestinian ambassador in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben.
On Thursday (Oct. 1st) the diplomats will convene with state governor Paulo Câmara and with Geraldo Júlio, the mayor of state capital Recife. The goal is to seek avenues for cooperation and sharing of experiences with Pernambuco.
The following day, they will pay a visit to the Port of Suape, which ranked sixth in cargo throughput in Brazil in 2014, and to Estaleiro Atlântico Sul, a shipyard located on the port’s industrial complex. “We are interested in industry and services,” Alzeben remarked.
Also on Friday, the ambassadors will have meetings with the state’s secretary of Economic Development Thiago Norões, and with the president of the Pernambuco Tourism Company (Empetur) Ana Paula Vilaça, besides a meeting with local businessmen. Alzeben pointed out that this will be an opportunity for direct dialogue between the diplomats and the productive sector about supply and demand of products, services and investments.
“It’s a very good practice, since we address the businessmen directly”, emphasized the ambassador. “It’s a chance to look at both trade and investment opportunities,” said the CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who will join the delegation.
Besides Alzeben, Alaby and the president of the Arab Chamber, Marcelo Sallum, also on the delegation are diplomats from Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Morocco, Jordan and officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations (Itamaraty) and the League of Arab States.
Businessmen interested in participating in the meeting with the Arab ambassadors, which will take place on Friday (2nd), at 3 PM in Recife, must call Ana Cristina, from the Arab Chamber, at 55 11 99911-6744 for further information.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum and Sérgio Kakitani
