Dubai – To strengthen ties between the entities, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) president Osmar Chohfi visited the headquarters of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce on Sunday afternoon (10). The ambassador was welcomed by the CEO & president of the organization, Hamad Buamim. Chohfi restated the ABCC’s desire to count on the support of the Dubai Chamber. “You can count on us and our services – we’re brothers, after all,” he said.
Buamim said that Brazil has always been a great partner not only for Dubai but the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and that several activities held together with the country have been successful. “Now, after the pandemic, we’re trying to live again, revive business, and not everything can be done online,” the CEO said, mentioning they are turning all attentions to Expo 2020 and pressing three years of hard work into six months by holding several events and connecting people, as well as prioritizing more sustainable business for the region. The events will address topics such as climate change, space, water, and others. Once a week, a business event at the Expo will be held by the Dubai Chamber.
Chohfi told Buamim that the Brazil pavilion at Expo will welcome authorities from the states of Paraná, Bahia, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Amazonas, and that the visit of president Jair Bolsonaro for the Brazil day at Expo on November 15 will come with a delegation of approximately 400 businesspeople, which can create great business opportunities.
Next March the Expo 2020 will have a week focused on business with Latin America. “We see a huge potential in the region, and Dubai can help connecting these regions, and that’s what we want to do here,” Buamim said.
“The ABCC aims at being a bilateral entity,” Chohfi said. He mentioned that the Brazilian agriculture relies on fertilizers from the Arab countries. “We want to sell foodstuffs to you, and we find it crucial to have a strategic relation in this regard. We could build upon that, not only in agriculture and food security but in investments in infrastructure, too, with the privatization of roads, ports and airports in Brazil,” the ambassador said.
ABCC secretary-general Tamer Mansour, who was also in the meeting. said that there are more than 30 Brazilian companies based in Dubai and that the entity has discussed alternatives to bring more products from Brazil to the region’s market.
Dubai Chamber CEO said that it’s always good to hear successful business histories between the two regions and that Brazilian companies could benefit from exporting to Dubai and establishing business in the emirate. “We know that Brazil is greatest player in Latin America, and we want to work more with you,” Buamin said.
Dubai Chamber International Relations vice president Hassan Al Hashemi, International Relations director Omar Khan and International Relations executive Alya Albulushiparticipated in the meeting. ABCC Institutional Relations manager Fernanda Baltazar, Dubai international office head Rafael Solimeo, and GCC, Iraq and Yemen regional advisor Shaheen Ali Shaheen were at the meeting, too.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
