But country purchases from the most advanced economies has dropped by 31%, shows a study by the Institute for Studies in aid of Industrial Development (Iedi). "The general explanation for this difference is that trade is a two-way highway," stated the institute executive director Julio Sérgio Gomes de Almeida to ANBA.
Author: Giuliana Napolitano
A study by Institute for Studies in aid of Industrial Development (Iedi) shows that export to these markets rose 13% between 2000 and 2003, while sales to the richest nations rose just 9%. The cause for this diversification was the economic crisis in Argentina.
During a visit to the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, in the southeastern city of São Paulo, Lebanese president Émile Lahoud stated to ANBA that negotiations for this exchange started on Thursday (19). "I am sure we will establish a fruitful relationship," he stated. The president of the institution Medical Council, Raul Cutait, was invited to visit Beirut in June.
New study by Getulio Vargas Foundation and by the official Brazilian Tourism Agency (Embratur) shows that over 90% of companies that organize fairs and events, and tour operators and agencies are optimistic with regard to 2004. Hotels also expect growth, but an executive in the area says that the year will still be one of evaluation.
"We can buy around US$ 10 billion from Brazilian companies," stated Nabil Saliba Tarazi, director of Cathay Consortium, to ANBA. The company intends to start the construction of Amber Islands, a group of islands to include hotels, houses, shopping malls, and even hospitals in Aiman emirate. The Chamber of Commerce in the region has stated that there are other tourist projects in progress in the country, among them, the construction of a new international airport.
The development, industry, and foreign trade minister recalled that, in 2003, great emphasis was placed on export, as this was a strategy to "get the economy moving again in a shorter period of time." He pointed out that the federal government will continue investing in foreign trade, but also stated that it will be "a pleasure to see import rise at the same rate as export."
To Ivan Ramalho, of the Development Ministry Foreign Trade Department, aircraft, vehicle, and soy derivative sales will have "considerable growth" this year. In 2003, these sectors were responsible for over 25% of the trade basket.
As from February 16, all cargo and vessel documents must be registered and tracked on the Internet, informed professor Eduardo Mario Dias, from the University of São Paulo, to ANBA. The professor was one of the coordinators of the project to computerize the port information system.
Domestic meat production is still small, but profits are attracting more and more businessmen. The first species were brought to the country in 1996 and, now, it is estimated that there are around 50,000 birds and 1,500 producers in the country. Apart from meat, leather, feathers, offspring, and even infertile eggs, the beaks and nails of ostriches also have commercial value.
In the northern state of Tocantins alone, grain shipping rose by 177%. In the centre-western state of Goiás, the increase was 170%. An increase in export to China, a reduction in the US harvest, and mad cow disease contributed to this performance.
Car sales, for example, rose by 311% last year. To the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), Paulo Sergio Atallah, "the trade balance (between the partners) is healthier." Import rose 15%.
This was the largest increase in the country, mainly pulled by soy and meat sales. Today (22), state vice governor Raimundo Nonato Pires dos Santos will be travelling on a federal government mission to Asia to increase meat shipping to the region. "We have to show that Brazilian cattle is free of mad cow disease," he stated to ANBA.
Interest in Brazil has been rising since Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the region, said to ANBA Nádia Baker, a Brazilian who has been living in the United Arab Emirates since last year and works for a firm that organizes events. According to her, there is interest in the purchase of Brazilian juice.
Negotiation began during the visit president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made to the Arab countries in December, informed the official Brazilian Tourism Agency (Embratur) business tourism manager, Lawrence Reinisch, to ANBA. Another company, Middle East Airlines, from Lebanon, is also evaluating the possibility of a flight between São Paulo and Beirut. A stopover in Europe is currently necessary.
