São Paulo – Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro had an online meeting on Monday (15) with the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Details of the meeting were made public by the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the Gulf country’s official news outlet. Pictured above are the king and three of his ministers, and onscreen are Brazil’s president and officials.
The king stressed that Bahrain is interested in cementing its economic relations with Brazil, including investments. Bahrain is looking to diversify its economy away from overreliance on oil. Al Khalifa believes mutual investment opportunities are a means for gathering economic strength while fighting the pandemic.
“We are convinced that boosting the volume of trade exchange between us will help support a strong economic recovery,” he said, adding that Bahrain is looking forward to opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Manama, the national capital.
The king also announced that Bahrain will appoint an ambassador to Brazil soon. Right now, the Arab country has a chargé d’affaires stationed in Brasília, Bader Alhelaibi.
In an interview with ANBA, Bader Alhelaibi said the goal is to drive up trade between the nations, which amounted to USD 902 million in 2020, primarily through sales of iron, steel and oil. “Bahrain has also directed relevant economic bodies to explore trade opportunities with the Brazilian counterparts. Both countries are finishing their studies on agreements in the economic, industrial, and agricultural fields. In addition, Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) will be signed soon,” he said.
During the online meeting, Bolsonaro stressed the need to strengthen political, economic, industrial and agricultural relations and to build ties towards food security. Brazil’s president said delegations from Brazil will travel to the Gulf country to discuss ways to consolidate cooperation in all fields. A date, however, is yet to be set.
The king of Bahrain thanked Bolsonaro for joining the launch, in Brazil, of the “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrein” in South America, in a bid to promote peaceful coexistence between people of different religions and creeds.
In attendance were Bahrain’s Royal Court minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and the minister of Industry, Trade and tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani. On Brazil’s side, the meeting was attended by foreign minister Ernesto Araújo and federal congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, president Jair Bolsonaro’s son. On his social media, Eduardo – who chairs the Commission on Foreign Relations and National Defense – said he envisions a wide range of opportunities in the Middle East, in agribusiness and trade. He also said he is looking to create a parliamentary group to work on Brazil-Bahrain relations.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
