São Paulo – Businessmen, students and organizations interested in information about business possibilities between Brazilians and Arabs may count on the Commercial Knowledge Centre. Officially inaugurated on Tuesday (28), the collection includes Brazilian and foreign publications that cover matters turned to economics and business in Brazil and in the Arab countries.
"The main proposal of the Centre is to give support to exhibitors and importers through information in the areas of economics, business, administration and marketing," pointed out Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Antonio Sarkis Jr. "The intention is to expand cultural and trade relations between Brazil and the Arab countries. With the Centre, we have closed a cycle of actions seeking to supply the demand for more complete information about the regions," he added. The collection includes material in Portuguese, English, Arabic, French and Spanish, as well as dictionaries, guides, videos, DVDs and magazines, among other material referring to trade, economics and business.
As the Centre includes information about the 22 Arab nations, users will not need to search for information at different sites. "We have established complete infrastructure for the best possible use, counting on multimedia resources and support of a librarian who is responsible for the site and for helping those seeking information," pointed out Sarkis.
The idea of establishing the centre matured over the years. A study by the Marketing Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, in 2005, showed the need for further information both for Brazilians about the Arab market and for the Arabs about the Brazilian market. "We worked on a communications plan, of which the centre is part. We started promoting the idea among embassies in both regions, during trade missions and fairs, and they were fundamental for establishment of the initial collection," pointed out the Marketing vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rubens Hannun.
"It is fundamental for businessmen to know where to seek this information. Our great objective is to break the barrier of lack of information," stated Hannun. "The Centre will continue being set up constantly. Today we received representatives of the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) who are going to donate legal publications so that Arabs may understand the legal rules when negotiating with Brazilians," he explained.
Among the businessmen who participated in the event for inauguration of the Centre were the owners of trading company General Products, which works with auto parts, furniture, civil construction and fashion. The company already operates in the Arab market, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt. "We have great contact with the Arab Brazilian Chamber, which promotes very active work. We came to visit the Centre to see how we can make use of it," stated André Saad, the company representative.
According to him, the organisation usually participates in trade missions and international fairs like the Index, in the furniture sector in Dubai, and in business roundtables like the one that took place last week, in São Paulo, with companies from Jordan, during the official visit of king Abdullah II to Brazil.
Companies interested in negotiating with the Arab market may also supply information about their structure and products, which will then be stored at the Centre. On-line inquiries regarding the Commercial Knowledge Centre collection may be made starting in November. The link connecting the software that will allow for searches using key words, title and subject will be available on the Arab Brazilian Chamber site – www.ccab.org.br.
The event also included the presence of Arab Brazilian Chamber vice presidents Salim Schahin (Foreign Trade) and Helmi Nasr (Foreign Relations) and directors Adel Auada, Bechara Aziz Ibrahim, Wladimir Freua, Mário Roberto Rizkallah and Nahid Chicani.
Location
The Commercial Knowledge Centre is located in the Arab Brazilian Chamber building at Av. Paulista, 326 – 16th floor. Further information may be obtained through telephone (+55 11) 3147-4071 or through e-mail conhecimento@ccab.org.br.
*Translated by Mark Ament
