São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Tunisian Export Promotion Center (Cepex) have signed a cooperation agreement this Thursday (5th) that will lead to joint actions.
The agreement was signed at the Arab Chamber offices in São Paulo by the Chamber’s Foreign Trade vice president Rubens Hannun and Cepex’s deputy general director Riadh Attia. “The goal is to streamline business and exports between Brazil and Tunisia,” Hannun stated.
Hannun is also the honorary consul of Tunisia in São Paulo and the president of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council on the Brazilian side. According to him, the plan is to integrate the idea with the work done by the Council. The body comprises Brazilian and Tunisian entrepreneurs from several industries.
According to Hannun, the agreement provides for the exchange of commercial information between the two organizations, and for the possibility of an interns exchange program, so that staff on both sides can get a better grasp of how business deals work in each of the countries.
Hannun discussed the joint actions that the deal’s signing will entail. “Participation in the Apas Fair (of the São Paulo Supermarkets Association) will continue, and we will probably also take part in a fair [in Tunisia],” he said.
He also mentioned potential commercial promotion projects involving the two countries. “We need to start having marketing actions. The idea is to increase promotion of Brazilian products in Tunisia and vice versa,” he explained.
Cepex’ Attia believes the agreement will enhance cooperation between the two organizations. “The Arab Chamber can provide invaluable information to Tunisian businesses, because we do not have a clear and detailed idea of the opportunities available on the Brazilian market. We don’t know much about the regulation here, or the distribution channels, the tax charges and levies. I believe the Arab Chamber can give us all the help we need in that area,” the deputy general director said.
He also said the Tunisian agency can help the Brazilian organization. “Cepex is at the disposal of the Arab Chamber and of Brazilian entrepreneurs to help get them in touch with the Tunisian government, the private sector and business owners in Tunisia so they can build partnerships of their own, not only pertaining to trade, but also to investment,” Attia asserted.
The executive remarked that Tunisia can act as a gateway into nearby countries. “I advise Brazilian companies to invest in Tunisia because in doing so, they can also reach neighboring markets like Algeria, Libya and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which hold great promise for Brazilian businesses,” he said.
Sabri Bachtobji, the Tunisian ambassador to Brasília, claimed that the agreement will further cement existing ties between the two organizations. “This agreement will strengthen the cooperation that is already in place between Cepex and the Arab Brazilian Chamber. It paves the way for mutual assistance between the parties,” he pointed out.
According to the diplomat, the deal also sets forth that both organizations will use their own means of communication to publicize the contents of the economic and commercial events they hold.
Michel Alaby, the Arab Chamber’s CEO, stressed the importance of the agreement to strengthening bilateral relations between Brazil and Tunisia.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
