São Paulo – The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, handed over the insignia of the Order of Rio Branco to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in a ceremony at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília this Wednesday (8) evening. He placed the insignia on the institution’s flag in the presence of the ABCC’s president, ambassador Osmar Chohfi, and the organization’s Senior Executive Board president, Marcelo Sallum. Pictured above (right o left) Bolsonaro, chancellor Carlos França, Chohfi, and Sallum.
In a press release, the Brazilian president’s office informed the ABCC was awarded for its support to the special humanitarian mission sent by the Brazilian government to Lebanon. The Brazil-Lebanon Chamber of Commerce (CCBL) was involved in the action and also received the insignia. Last year, the Brazilian government coordinated humanitarian aid to Lebanon after an explosion in the Port of Beirut left hundreds dead and thousands injured. The ABCC was one of the organizations helping make the support feasible.
“This is the recognition of an already significant trajectory for us in Brazil’s relations with the Arab countries, and also a recent role played by the ABCC coordinating Brazilian government aid to Lebanon after the catastrophe hit the Port of Beirut. The ABCC collaborated with other entities in our community to send aid for the most pressing initial needs of the affected population,” said Chohfi to the ANBA report.
The insignia of the Order of Rio Branco is one of the most significant commendations the Brazilian government can grant to individuals, legal entities, military corporations, and civil institutions, national or foreign. In the case of institutions, it is usually given to those who have contributed significantly to Brazil’s political, economic, and social development. Chohfi told ANBA it was an honor for the ABCC to be awarded the Order of Rio Branco.
Read more: Arab Brazilian Chamber receives Order of Rio Branco insignia
“This award is a recognition for our nearly 70 years of fostering closer relations between Brazil and the Arab world, in the economic field, in particular, but also social and cultural,” added Chohfi. At the ceremony, Bolsonaro went to Chohfi and Sallum to place the insignia on the flag, which was in the hands of Chancellor Carlos França and spoke briefly about his last trip to the Middle East.
Bolsonaro made an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar last month and participated in Expo 2020 Dubai, in which Brazil has a pavilion. The ABCC collaborated with the presidential trip to the UAE and Bahrain and also took part in actions by other sectors of the government, such as the trip by the Vice President and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Brazil to the UAE on the occasion of the Expo 2020.
Commendations
The ABCC and the CCBL were the organizations awarded with the Order of Rio Branco this Wednesday. Other people also received the honor, including the first lady of Brazil, Michelle Bolsonaro; the ministers of Citizenship, João Roma; Justice, Anderson Torres; Health, Marcelo Queiroga; Tourism, Gilson Machado; and Government Secretariat, Flávia Arruda.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
