São Paulo – Since last Friday (12th), Brazil has an honorary consulate in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. According to the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations (aka Itamaraty), the opening of a diplomatic representation in the Arab country reflects Brazil’s will to increase its presence in the region.
According to the Ministry, Brazil has plans to open new diplomatic missions around the world. Although it concedes the possibility of having an embassy in Bahrain, the Itamaraty claims the issue is still being pondered, and that the new honorary consulate is not an indication that the embassy will indeed ensue.
The diplomatic representation in Manama is subordinate to the Brazilian embassy in Kuwait and its head is Khalid Ghozlani. He is a Moroccan-born, Bahraini-based oil industry businessman. According to the Itamaraty, even though the post could have been occupied by a Brazilian, Ghozlani was appointed due to his good government and business connections in the Gulf country.
The honorary consulate will not provide services such as visa issuance, but it will assist Brazilian citizens living in the Arab country – with legal issues, for instance – as well as Brazilian diplomatic missions during their stays in Bahrain. One such mission will take place next October, for a meeting of foreign ministers from countries of the Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa) in Manama.
The Itamaraty reports that in 2011, as per a survey, there were less than 200 Brazilians residing in Bahrain.
According to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, Bahrain was once host to major investment from Brazil, including operations by the mining company Vale, which is no longer active in the country. Bahrain is also home to a significant community of Brazilian aircraft pilots, apart from being a major local financial hub.
According to figures supplied by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, from January to August this year Brazil exported US$ 246.21 million worth of goods to Bahrain. The main items shipped from Brazil to the Arab country are ores, meats and sugar.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
