São Paulo – A group of Brazilian businessmen and leaders will have a series of activities in Jordan to strengthen ties and prospect for business deals starting next Friday (6th). The mission, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, is headed by president of the organization, Salim Taufic Schahin, and will include representatives of companies Brasilfoods, Condor, Embraer and the Brazilian Defence and Security Industries Association (Abimde). Other participants will include the director of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Mustapha Abdouni, who is the Jordanian consul to São Paulo, and the secretary general of the organization, Michel Alaby.
“We are going on the mission by request of the Jordanian king, and in retribution to his visit, and we are also going to attend the Jordan Investment Board Conference,” explains Abdouni. The king of Jordan, Abdullah II, met with Arab Brazilian Chamber leaders during his visit to Brazil, in October last year, and invited the Brazilian businessmen to promote a trade mission to his country. In Jordan, the Brazilian companies will have an opportunity to discuss business with government officials, with whom they will meet, as well as with private sector businessmen, at the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
There should be meetings with king Abdullah II, in addition to a visit and business meetings at the Amman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the stint at the Jordan Investment Board Conference, due November 11th and 12th. According to Abdouni, the conference is going to bring together representatives of other Arab countries besides Jordan, and will also be an opportunity to strengthen ties with businessmen from the other nations in the region. The Jordan Investment Board is the Jordanian agency in charge of promoting investment in the country.
The Brazilian delegation wants to expand trade relations with Jordan and increase the export basket to the Arab country even further. Brazil already sells several types of products to the Jordanian market. From January to September this year, for instance, shipments to the Arab country included meats, coffee, sugar, aluminium and chassis. Exports totalled US$ 135 million. However, there was a reduction compared with sales in the same period last year, when revenues from shipments totalled US$ 233 million.
The Brazilian mission starts next Friday and ends on Thursday (12th). "It is primarily an action of the Arab Brazilian Chamber," says Abdouni concerning the trip. He also explains that the organization operates as a link between Brazil and the Arab countries. The Chamber promotes a host of actions, every year, to bring Brazil and the Arab world closer together, trade- and culture-wise.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
