Goiânia – The state of Goiás aims to increase trade relations with the Arab countries and the state has projects, most in infrastructure, that may receive investment from the region. The statement was made by the governor of Goiás, Marconi Perillo, who met with the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil on Thursday (28), at the seat of the government, in Goiânia. The governor and the ambassadors also spoke about cultural and student exchange and about visits to Arab countries. The mission of the ambassadors is promoted in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, which is represented by president Marcelo Sallum and CEO Michel Alaby.
"We are open to all kinds of bilateral relations. We want to receive investment, but we also want to import,” said Perillo. The governor said that the state is growing and that the population should double from the current 10 million people to 20 million in 10 years. He also said that the economy of Goiás grew 3.8% in 2012, the greatest growth among Brazilian states, and that apart from being a great agricultural producer, Goiás has industrial hubs and is investing in infrastructure. It is for this investment that Perillo wants partners.
Some of the projects in the state are the construction of a cargo airport, which is already in progress and which Perillo aims to transfer to the private initiative after it is completed, the construction of Goiânia metro, a basic sanitation project budgeted at US$ 750 million and a highway concession. According to the director of the Middle East department at the Itamaraty, Carlos Ceglia, Brazil currently offers great legal security to investors and added that security to investors on the return over their investment “is guaranteed”.
To Arab Brazilian Chamber president Marcelo Sallum, Goiás presents great investment opportunities in these new projects and the delegation of ambassadors to the state is a chance to learn more about the demands of Goiás and of the Arabs.
“It is important both for the ambassador to know about the opportunities in Goiás and for the government to know about what the Arab countries want. Each country, at its time and in its conditions, may evaluate what is best,” said Sallum.
The ambassador of Kuwait, Yousef Abdulsamad, stated that his country has a fund for investment in new projects all over the world. “We have billions (of dollars) to invest in all sectors of infrastructure by 2030 and may cooperate in projects in Goiás. The Emir of Kuwait wants his country to be the financial centre of the Middle East,” he said.
The ambassador of Palestine in Brasília and dean of the council of Ambassadors, Ibrahim Alzeben, stated that closer trade ties between the Arab countries and Brazil is a way to protect their economies, be it through greater bilateral trade or mutual investment.
“The presence of the governor of Goiás and of the ambassadors at this meeting shows the interest in growing these relations that began over one hundred years ago. We have much to share. I want a better future for our states,” said the Palestinian.
Answering to a suggestion of the ambassador of Palestine, Perillo said that Goiás may work on exchange with the Arab countries. “In the first moment we may send and bring between 50 and 100 students. We (the state of Goiás) may cover extra costs with housing and feeding of these students. We may also send our youth orchestra to play in your country,” said the governor.
The business attaché of Morocco, Abdeslam Maleh, stated that a delegation from Paraná should visit an agriculture fair in his country from April 24th to 28th, and invited the government of Goiás to participate in the event. The ambassador of Sudan, in turn, presented the sugarcane production projects in his nation. The governor of Goiás said that if Sudan can offer land and tax breaks, he may suggest investors for the country. The Arab ambassadors should also have meetings at the Federation of Industries of Goiás (FIEG) on Thursday and at the Pontifical Catholic University on Friday (1), before returning to Brasília.
The delegation includes the ambassadors of the Arab League, Bachar Yagi; of Palestine, Ibrahim Alzeben; of Sudan, Abd Elghani Elkarim; of Iraq, Baker Hussen; of Kuwait, Yousef Abdulsamad; of Algeria, Djamel Bennaoum; of Oman, Khalid Al Jaradi, and of Egypt, Hossameldin Zagi. Apart from them, the business attachés of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Aleisa; Morocco, Abdeslam Maleh; Tunisia, Mehrez Ferchichi; Jordan, Hasan Saraireh; and Mauritania, Ahmed Ethmane, are also present.
*Translated by Mark Ament
