São Paulo – The São Paulo Development Forum (Fopa) honored this Monday (10) the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, represented by its president Rubens Hannun (pictured, 2nd, R to L). The event was held in Guarulhos, in the Greater São Paulo area, to discuss aspects of the São Paulo State government’s plans. Speakers took turns throughout the day to discuss “The Resumption of Growth.”
One of Fopa’s organizers and the chair of GSCM – Global Council of Sales Marketing, Agostinho Turbian (2nd, L to R) said “the point was to socialize development.” Speakers from fields including education, healthcare, public security, housing, technology, travel and urban mobility. São Paulo State authorities and service providers were also in attendance.
Hannun said decades’ worth of work by the Chamber have led to its prominence at the event. “The Chamber has been based in São Paulo for over 65 years now, and there is no question that throughout its history it has done a lot for the State. It has represented the Arab community in the State of São Paulo, just as it has taken local businesses to Arab countries, facilitating deal-making,” he said, pointing out the relevance of bilateral São Paulo-Arab trade. “Much of our work is about contributing to São Paulo trade. The Chamber is part of the development of São Paulo,” concluded Hannun.
“The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce is a player in Brazil’s economy which represents 22 countries. We came in contact with the Chamber because we are having an event in Cairo, Egypt, and we would have been unable to do so were it not for the Chamber,” said Turbian, in a reference to the World Company Awards, which will see awards given to Brazilian entrepreneurs in Egypt’s capital later this month.
Turbian also mentioned international projects. “The Chamber is at an excellent point in its internationalization process. At this point it has an office in Dubai. This speaks to the vision of the leaders that propel the Chamber forward: going international to do more business,” he said, in a nod to Hannun and to CEO Tamer Mansour (pictured, on the left), who was also in attendance.
Also honored at the event was the commercial consul of Egypt to São Paulo, Mohamed Elkhatib (pictured, on the right). “São Paulo is a strong state with lots of opportunity available. Two of the foremost institutions [when it comes to Brazil-Egypt ties] are in São Paulo: GRU Airport, which welcomes the majority of Egyptian travelers to Brazil, and the Port of Santos, which handles 90% of Egypt-Brazil trade,” asserted Elkhatib.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
