By Osmar Chohfi
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is turning 71 on July 2, 2023, changing and innovating. As the current head of the institution, I’m proud to say that the ABCC that was established back in 1952 to bring closer together Arabs and Brazilians through trade and business cooperation, keeps fulfilling its mission in new and innovative ways.
In the 1950s, when Brazil-Arab bilateral trade was just starting, the establishment of the ABCC by Arab immigrants and descendants, including my own family, was visionary. In current times, we keep this institution standing by forging increasingly strong and advanced business ties with Arabs.
The beginning of these 71 years of history was made of actions that were bold for those times. Taking Brazilian entrepreneurs in business delegations to the Arab world was an admirable feat, so was taking Brazilian companies to trade shows in the Eastern side of the world. It wasn’t long before the ABCC became a reference in this trade route for businesspeople and authorities from here and there.
Throughout these decades the ABCC saw countless meetings with Arab and Brazilian authorities, as well as official delegations, participation in trade shows, organization of business missions, B2Bs that brought Arabs and Brazilians closer together, and our presence os stages across Brazil and the Arab world to discuss the relevance and power of this relation.
Brazil and the Arab world are strategically complementary, so we’re established as the ABCC. Our story has proven such complementarity. I’d like to highlight as an example that the Arab states are efficient fertilizer manufacturers, while Brazil is a powerhouse in agriculture and livestock. Having the Arab fertilizer around here means more food for the world, and Brazil is a relevant partner for the food security in the Arab world.
Recent years showed many examples where Brazil and the Arab countries meet. The Arab investment reached our beef production. We’ve taken donations due to tragedies that affected some Arab countries. We’ve received Arab donations for social projects in Brazil. We’ve taken our expertise in agriculture. Our governments pleaded for common causes at G20, the United Nations, and other instances. Various agreements have cut tariffs and cleared trade for a better access of products here and there, as well as incentivizing reciprocal investment.
As a major supporter and driver of this relation, the ABCC has adapted and reinvented itself for these new times that call for more agility in trade, lower costs, unending partnerships, and more advanced, safer goods that are manufactured under principles of ethics and sustainability. We’ve established an important platform, Ellos, that uses blockchain technology for digitizing the trade process, thus reducing times and costs. Exports to Jordan have already seen the elimination of paper, and the same will soon happen in trade with Egypt and other Arab countries.
We remain firm in helping companies to promote business but now we also do it online. We’ve established an innovation lab dubbed ABCC Lab that help us bring Brazilian and Arab ecosystems closer together, taking Brazilian startups to the Midde East and North Africa. We’ve opened offices in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, and we’ll soon launch one in Saudi Arabia, thus shortening distances for Arab and Brazilian companies to get closer together.
We’re carrying out together with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), the Halal Brazil project that aims to make Brazilian food companies to supply to Muslim countries, bringing more profits and opportunities for our country, and providing the Islamic nations with the products they demand. Halal manufacturing means manufacturing with sustainability and quality standards.
These are just some of our recent initiatives towards a more effective, more fruitful trade. We’ve also worked on other fronts like bringing about sports cooperation, fostering cultural interchange, encouraging immigration ties, and strengthening the relations of fellow South American countries with Arab nations.
An evolving world leads societies to set new priorities, and the ABCC finds new ways to fulfill its mission. Our presence in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in Egypt, which is part of our adherence to the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, is an example of this. So, at 71, we’re here for more and more challenges. Many thanks to all who trust our Chamber and are partners in our purpose.
Osmar Chohfi is diplomat and president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
