São Paulo – President Jair Bolsonaro conferred the insignia of the Order of Rio Branco to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) last Thursday, November 25. The Order of Rio Branco is dedicated to honoring those recognized by the Brazilian government, serving to encourage the practice of actions and deeds worthy of honorable mention, in addition to distinguishing meritorious services and civic virtues.
“It is a great honor for the ABCC to receive the Order of Rio Branco, which is a recognition for the work the organization has been doing for almost 70 years in economic, social, and cultural relations between Brazil and the Arab countries, and whenever necessary, participating in humanitarian actions, as more recently, the Chamber joined other organizations to help our Lebanese brothers after the tragedy in the Port of Beirut,” the president of the ABCC, Osmar Chohfi, told ANBA.
The insignia of the Order of Rio Branco was created by the then Brazilian president João Goulart in February 1963. It can be granted to individuals or legal entities, Brazilian or foreign. An insignia may also be awarded to military corporations or civilian institutions. The Order of Rio Branco is named after the patron of Brazilian diplomacy, the Baron of Rio Branco.
The Order’s insignia (pictured above) is a cross with four arms and eight points enameled in white, with the armillary sphere in gilded silver in the center, inscribed, in a blue enamel circle, with the caption “Ubique Patriae Memor,” in the same metal. On the golden reverse, the dates 1845-1912 are engraved. From Latin, “Ubique Patriae Memor” translates as “Anywhere, I will always have the Motherland in my memory.” The phrase was taken from the ex-libris of the Baron of Rio Branco. The dates on the back of the insignia are the Baron’s birth and death years.
In addition to the ABCC, the Brazil-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce (CCBL), the Brazil Friendship Group in the Middle East (Lebanon), and the Diocese of Rabat (Morocco) were also awarded the insignia. “As president of the ABCC, I feel incredibly grateful for this recognition, which is due to the work of everyone who makes up the governing and functional body. It is a pleasure for the ABCC to be in the company of our sister, the CCBL, and other Arab organizations,” declared Chohfi.
Arab Brazilian Chamber
The ABCC has been working to connect Brazilians and Arabs to promote economic, cultural, and social development in the region for almost 70 years. Partnerships and MoUs with government agencies, companies, and associations are part of the strategy to conduct the institution’s mission. As a member of the Union of Arab Chambers (UAC), the ABCC is recognized for its credibility and solid performance as the only legitimate representative in Brazil of the commercial interests of the countries of the League of Arab States – an institution conjoining 22 independent countries with Arabic as their official language.
To connect Brazilians and Arabs, the organization offers a series of crucial benefits for doing business, such as business contacts, market studies, research, participation in shows, business rounds, lectures, trade missions, among other activities. In Brazil, the ABCC is headquartered in the capital city of São Paulo and has an office in Itajaí, in the state of Santa Catarina. The organization has international offices in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. An office in Saudi Arabia is expected to open soon.
Working closely with Brazilian governments to strengthen the relations between Brazil and the Arabs is part of the organization’s strategy. The ABCC has supported missions led by ministers and the Brazilian presidency to the Arab countries, such as a trip by president Jair Bolsonaro to the Gulf this year. The institution opened its office in Cairo this year in the presence of vice president Hamilton Mourão, who was also the guest of honor at a seminar held by the organization in Dubai. The ABCC also organized the Brazil-Bahrain Economic Forum in Manama, Bahrain, during a visit by Bolsonaro to the country.
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Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
