São Paulo – Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro said the country’s relations with the Arab countries have never been better. He joined foreign minister Ernesto Araújo and the minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, for the opening of the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries, alongside Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) president Rubens Hannun, Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and other Arab authorities.
“I am certain that relations between Brazil and the Arab world are at their all-time best right now,” Bolsonaro said, speaking from Brasília. The forum is being hosted online by the ABCC, in partnership with the Union of Arab chambers and the Arab League. Last year saw Bolsonaro take a tour of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The president said the trip was proof of Brazil’s interest in enhancing its Middle East ties. “The building of political rapport has enabled us to find new avenues for cooperation in strategic sectors, such as science, technology, innovation, and energy,” he said, adding that in meetings with Arab heads of state and government, he has worked to advance a results-oriented agenda.
Bolsonaro mentioned that during his tour, Saudi Arabia revealed that it’s willing to invest USD 10 billion in Brazil via sovereign funds. The Brazil-Saudi Arabia Inter-Ministerial Committee for Trade and Investment Promotion was established to follow through with discussions and to efficiently allocate resources, he asserted.
He also said that countries like the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have significant sums invested in Brazil. “Those countries have USD 4 billion to USD 5 billion each invested in Brazil. I am certain that we will see those numbers multiply.” Conversely, some 30 Brazilian companies have commercial offices and manufacturing facilities throughout the Middle East. “We were please to become aware of the opening of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s office in Dubai in February 2019,” he said.
Brazil’s president said that when it comes to trade and investment, talks are being encouraged towards Arab-Brazilian partnerships. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, virtual meetings have multiplied, which proves that there’s a mutual interest in building tighter-knit relations.”
Bolsonaro mentioned Brazilian-Arab trade numbers and said he believes the infrastructure of Gulf countries could be used to increase the availability and diversity of Brazilian products in Asia markets. According to him, Brazil ships product to all 22 Arab League member countries, particularly agribusiness products.
“From January to August 2020, those exports came out to USD 4.6 billion. Therefore, in an eight-month span this year, and despite the restrictions wrought by Covid-19, we are close to matching whole-year exports in 2019, which came out to USD 4.9 billion.” Bolsonaro also said Arabs can rely on Brazil’s partnership to ensure their food security and the availability of halal products – i.e. those made in compliance with Islamic rules and traditions.
Bolsonaro remarked that Brazilian-Arab relations are not limited to the Gulf. He noted that Arab countries in Africa also engage in relevant trade with Brazil. He said Egypt is Brazil’s premier export destination in Africa, the second biggest Arab importer of Brazilian-made goods, and that it sustains a free trade agreement with the Mercosur since 2017.
“Morocco, with which we are building significantly tighter-knit political relations, is a strategic partner when it comes to our agriculture, as a key supplier of fertilizer,” he said. Bolsonaro also mentioned Algeria as a major supplier of Brazil’s in the African continent, and the third biggest export destination, trailing only Egypt and South Africa.
Bolsonaro also discussed the cooperation and investment facilitation agreements entered into with Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. “We are ready to create new avenues of dialogue and cooperation, so as to lay down regulatory frameworks that can fine-tune Brazilian-Arab investment even further.”
The president also discussed the role played by Arab immigrants in the genesis of Brazilian society, and said Brazil intends to keep building cultural, historical and friendship ties with the Arab world. He went on to mention the humanitarian aid provided to Lebanon this year. “You may rest assured that our administration is working and will always work to enhance Brazil’s relations with the Arab world even further,” he said.
Journalist Renata Maron is the forum’s host.
Check out the full coverage on ANBA.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
