São Paulo – Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (Funag), connected to the Itamaraty, should promote, starting on the 29th, a course for Arab diplomats in São Paulo, Brasília and Rio de Janeiro. According to information disclosed by the organisation, the promotion of programmes for diplomats is a tradition that began in 2006.
The objective of the course is to provide professionals a clearer idea of what Brazil is and, later, to facilitate relations with their countries of origin. The idea is also to generate in diplomats interest in serving in Brazil and to simplify adaptation in case that happens.
In this respect, the two-week programme includes talks and seminars with university professors and other personalities, meetings with authorities and visits to public companies and organisations.
The agenda for Arab diplomats will begin at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in São Paulo. The city was chosen to start the course due to the great presence of the Arab community in the city and due to the large volume of organisations connected to the colony.
There should, among other presentations, be talks by the undersecretary general of the Itamaraty for Africa and the Middle East, Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto, by the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Marcelo Sallum, and by the president of the Arab Culture Institute (Icarabe), Salem Nasser, as well as visits to the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, to the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) and meetings with the deputy governor of the state of São Paulo, Guilherme Afif Domingos, and with city mayor Fernando Haddad, both of Arab descent.
The event should include diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Qatar, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and the League of Arab States.
This is the first time that the foundation organizes an exclusive course for Arabs. There have already, however, been 10 similar programmes for diplomats from South America, three for African countries and one for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The initiative is part of the Brazilian government’s policy for generation of closer ties with the countries of the region.
*Translated by Mark Ament
