São Paulo – After the Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum 2022, an event that brought together Brazilian and Arab authorities and business people this Monday (4), the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) held a dinner to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its foundation at the Renaissance hotel, in Sao Paulo.
A video about the organization’s legacy and innovation opened the event, which was attended by members of the Brazilian Arab community and guests. The ABCC board chair, Marcelo Nabih Sallum, greeted the guests and told a little about the organization’s history, from its foundation to the present day.
He spoke about the ABCC offices in São Paulo, Itajaí, Brasília, Cairo, and Dubai, and about the creation of the Brazil Arab News Agency (ANBA), in 2003, which currently has 11 journalism awards and versions in Portuguese, Arabic, and English with relevant stories on trade, social, and cultural relations between the regions.
“Building bridges, we traveled through the 22 Arab countries and all Brazilian states, carrying out thousands of business missions, shows, business rounds, workshops, and trade agreements, spreading what the first Arab immigrants on Brazilian soil did with mastery: The art of trading, and we turned the Arab countries into Brazil’s third-largest trading partner,” said Sallum, emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Arab people and their descendants in Brazil.
Sallum spoke about innovations by the entity, which, aware of the transformations in global trade structure, entered the digital age, initially with the digitalization of its activities, and today with blockchain technology for filing and tracking its processes.
The board chair also said over the years, the six pillars of the ABCC – Institutional, governmental relations, trade promotion, member services, culture, and infrastructure – have become increasingly broader, which has led it to achieve the mark of 1,400 member Arab and Brazilian companies.
“Today, we can confidently and proudly say the ABCC is internationally recognized, both by companies and state agencies, as the most respected platform for entering the Arab market for Brazilians and the Brazilian for Arabs,” said Sallum highlighting the governmental honors received by the entity.
The Palestinian ambassador to Brazil and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, said the ambassadors trust the partnership with the entity and “we will work together for our relations with Brazil to become more fruitful.” He also stated Arab countries want more Brazilian and South American products in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Arab League assistant secretary-general, Hossam Zaki; ABCC cultural director, Silvia Antibas; ABCC president, Ambassador Osmar Chohfi; and ABCC Marketing & Content director, Silvana Gomes, also spoke at the event.
“This is a celebration of our anniversary to say how pleased the ABCC is to receive you to celebrate our achievements and what our ancestors brought with their entrepreneurial spirit, with a history of success. We are the product of those who preceded us,” said Chohfi.
The ABCC president received tributes from Cdial Halal, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and Union of Arab Chambers (UAC) for the organization’s 70th anniversary.
At the end of the celebration, a video was screened introducing the monument to Arab immigration to be unveiled this Tuesday, an artwork on the facade of the Senador Queirós garage building, near Rua 25 de Março (street shopping hub of São Paulo city), and Omani sand artist Shayma Al Mughairy gave another performance. The anniversary ceremony was conducted by presenter and journalist Renata Maron (opening picture), who was also the master of ceremonies of the Economic Forum.
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 Elúsio Brasileiro
