São Paulo – Businessmen and politicians from Egypt visited Brazil this week to learn about social development and entrepreneurship programmes developed in Brazil. On Tuesday (17) evening, they visited the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce to learn about the process for re-democratisation of Brazil between the election of Jânio Quadros, in 1960, and the two terms in office of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, presented to the Egyptians how Brazil lived the military coup, in 1964, the several economic plans, how inflation was controlled, in 1994, with the Real Plan, and how the social programmes helped part of the population cross the line of poverty and enter the emerging social classes. Among these programmes are the Zero Hunger and Family Purse.
To congressman Sayed Ngida, the learning of Brazil and some projects developed in the country may be taken to Egypt, if they live the necessary adaptation to the local reality. “This visit provided us with a broad vision of Brazil, especially regarding re-democratisation. I believe that with basic changes, we will be able to bring some Brazilian programmes to Egypt. We are also eyeing Brazilian industrial growth and considering how we can grow in the area in our country, as is the case with the renewable energy sector. In the social part, we may learn with programmes like the Zero Hunger,” he said.
Tarek El Desouky, also a congressman, stated that Brazil and Egypt should work more to increase bilateral trade, specially, exports from Egypt to Brazil. In his evaluation, bilateral trade between both countries is much favourable to Brazil.
Neveen El Tahri, the managing director of company Delta Financial Investments, from Giza, stated that she may take to Egypt some of the Brazilian experience in the developed of small and medium companies. “I also liked to see how Brazil may influence the public sector [in Egypt] in the development of small and medium companies," he said.
The Egyptian delegation that is in Brazil is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). On Monday, members of the delegation visited Brasília to talk to the ministers of Foreign Relations, Finance and Social Development, and also to talk to representatives of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, congressmen, members of the judiciary and also employees of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae).
On Tuesday, apart from the Arab Brazilian Chamber, the delegation also visited the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), FHC Institute (belonging to former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso) and the Citizenship Institute. On Wednesday (18), the businessmen and politicians head to Chile.
*Translated by Mark Ament
