São Paulo – Directors at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce participate on Wednesday (20) and Thursday (21) in the Arab-European Economic Forum, in Amman, Jordan. The meeting is organized by the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, the European Investment Bank, the Chamber of Commerce of Jordan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jordan. The theme is: Rethinking the partnership for better growth and development.
“It is a programme to discuss trade relations between the Arabs and Europe,” said the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, who will participate in the event alongside the organisation’s president, Marcelo Sallum, and the Foreign Trade vice president, Rubens Hannun. The organisation is a member of the General Union.
Both regions have traditional and intense economic relations, but there are currently concerns regarding the future of this partnership in the face of the sovereign debt in Europe and political instability in the Middle East and North Africa, as a result of the so-called Arab Spring.
Due to the importance of these relations, the General Union usually promotes periodic debates on the theme. To the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, according to Alaby, it is important to participate in talks on economic themes that top the agenda in the Arab world and to know the main challenges the region currently faces, as well as making contact with representatives of several Arab chambers of commerce, other business leaders and government representatives.
The programme includes panels about investment in Jordan; a new vision on Arab-European relations; the main private projects in the Arab world and the importance of international financing; the development of infrastructure by public-private partnerships; and also an Arab initiative for support to small and medium companies.
Those participating include leaders like king Abdullah II of Jordan, the president of the General Union of Chambers, Adnan Kassar, the head of the European Union’s delegation in Jordan, Joanna Wronecka, and the Jordanian minister of Industry and Trade, Hatem Halawani, among others.
After the forum, Alaby should also participate in a meeting with secretary generals of other chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture.
*Translated by Mark Ament