Isaura Daniel
São Paulo – The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations is going to promote a diplomatic and business mission to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait between February 21 and 24. The minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, will be travelling to the region accompanied by a delegation of Brazilian businessmen, financial institutions and sector organizations.
The event is going to be part of the Itamaraty strategy of organizing trade promotion in non-traditional markets. "We are going to present Brazil to them. We already have trade relations with these countries, and we now want to show that we have the capacity to expand our relations and export new products," stated the o substitute head of the Trade Promotion Operations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Brazil, Rodrigo de Azeredo Santos.
Organizations that have already confirmed their presence on the delegation include the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), Brazilian oil giant Petrobras and aerospace industry Avibras. The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) is supporting the initiative and is going to send a representative. "All ministerial visits are important as they strengthen the Brazilian image, political partnerships, open new business opportunities and maintain the image of companies that already export to the market," stated the CCAB secretary-general, Michel Alaby.
Brazilian companies interested in participating in the mission may enrol at the Ministry of Foreign Relations starting on Monday (17). The trip and stay, however, will be covered by each company. The Brazilian government intends to count on 40 to 50 companies and organisations on the delegation.
Business
The preliminary program prepared by the ministry includes seminars about business and trade opportunities at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the Saudi Capital, at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kuwait City. At the seminars, the Brazilian diplomats and sector organizations present at the event are going to present the economic potential of Brazil to local businessmen and authorities.
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry of both countries are going to be in charge of organizing business meetings between Brazilian and Arab businessmen. According to Azeredo, the organizations should identify the interests of Brazilian companies so as to bring to the meetings potential commercial partners. The delegations will also have one day in each country to visit factories and distributors, according to their interests.
The mission will be in Saudi Arabia on February 21 and 22 and in Kuwait on February 23 and 24. Amorim is going to participate in the opening of the seminars, to take place on the first day in each country. Apart from that, the minister will meet government authorities and diplomats from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The meetings are still being defined.
The Bank of Brazil, the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the National Confederation of Industries (CNI) were invited to integrate the delegation and participate in seminars, but they have not yet given their official answer.
Before the summit
Azeredo believes that despite the tour not having been scheduled as preparatory for the Summit between Arab and South American Heads of State, to take place between May 10 and 11 in Brazil, it is going to serve as preliminary work for the meeting. "It is going to be an opportunity to show what can be done at the Summit," he said. He believes that from the talks between Brazilian and Arab companies it is possible that accords may arise and be announced at the summit. The summit should also be the topic of talks between Amorim and the local diplomacy.
In the invitation letter that has been sent to Brazilian businessmen, the minister points out the products that have the greatest potential on the Saudi and Kuwaiti market, mentioning chicken and cattle meat, processed food, sugar, ores, machinery and equipment, transport vehicles and auto parts, textile and medical/hospital products, and products and services for civil construction and infrastructure. Participation, however, is open to businessmen of all areas.
The minister also recalled the economic potential of both countries as consumer markets. "Over the last 25 yeas, rapid growth has coincided with the consolidation of Saudi Arabia as an important market for the main export countries in the world," says the letter. Saudi Arabia has 21.7 million inhabitants, per capita income of US$ 8,600 and has been presenting population growth, a fact that, according to the Itamaraty, results in greater demand for services and products.
The Itamaraty recalls that Kuwait, despite having a population of only 2.6 million inhabitants, has a strategic regional position as it is surrounded by powers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. Kuwait, according to the Brazilian diplomacy, has been investing large volumes of money outside the country. The estimated value of international investment is US$ 200 billion. The per capita income in the country is US$ 18,900.
Further information regarding the trade mission may be requested on e-mail orientemedio@braziltradenet.gov.br, or on site www.braziltradenet.gov.br.
