Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
São Paulo – The southern state of Paraná plans to diversify the export basket to the Arab countries. The state also wishes that business groups from the Middle East invest in industries and in the services sector. With this aim, the vice president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep), Ardisson Naim Akel, received yesterday (16) a group of Arab businessmen in the city of Foz do Iguaçu.
The businessmen, who landed in the afternoon in the Foz International Airport, are part of the mission that arrived in Brazil last Sunday (13). Representing companies from Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, they participated in business roundtables in São Paulo, where they stayed until Wednesday morning. The return to their countries should happen after a visit to the Iguaçu Falls, programmed for today (17).
In a lecture at the Hotel Mabu, Akel, who is coordinator of the Fiep Theme Committee for Foreign Trade, showed that the business possibilities offered by the State go well beyond the primary sector. Traditional food producers and exporters to the Middle East and North Africa, the state of Paraná also has opportunities in segments such as the automotive, metal-mechanic, wood articles and services.
"The Arab countries already are our importers of industrialised poultry and beef, soy, sugar and wheat. Even in the food sector we want to show there are new options, such as candies and chocolates, as well as in sectors such as auto parts, automobiles, busses, wooden floors, ceramic tiles, paper, cellulose, cardboard and packaging in general," highlighted the vice president at Fiep.
This should be a first contact of many others to come, according to the Fiep vice president. "Later we want to organise a special visit for them, with the aim of closing deals. They may bring money to invest in new industries and manufacture products which they can buy themselves," he said. Akel recalls that the hotel sector in Paraná may become a target for potential investors.
*Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná. Translated by Silvia Lindsey
