Dubai – The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, stated this Monday (15) he considers the United Arab Emirates “his second country” and announced the opening of an office of the Ministry of Tourism in Dubai to promote tourism to Brazil in the region. He spoke at the opening ceremony of Invest in Brasil Forum, an event organized by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Federal Government, in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber).
“We are opening a tourism office here in Dubai with support from our minister Gilson Machado,” said Bolsonaro. He highlighted the natural beauty of Brazil as unparalleled and invited those present to visit the country. “Our second visit here will strengthen our ties even more and will make you invest even more [in Brazil]. We are very close. More than just good partners, we are brothers. We are sure we will expand trade relations, and you are our preferred partners. I already consider this my second country,” said Bolsonaro.
After the event’s opening, ANBA spoke with the minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado, who confirmed the office could open in mid-January 2022. “We will open an Embratur office here in Dubai. [The main activities of the office will be] promoting Brazil in the Middle East and seeking partnerships; it will also focus on attracting investments and air connectivity,” he said.
In addition to Bolsonaro, several ministers and representatives of the private sector from Brazil and the Arab countries spoke at the forum (read more here), including the president of the ABCC, Osmar Chohfi, the president of the CNI, Robson Braga de Andrade, and the president of Apex-Brasil, Augusto Pestana.
Expo 2020
Bolsonaro also participated in the Brazil Day at Expo 2020. The ceremony included several activities and Brazilian music and dance presentations. In the Al Wasl square, the president gave a speech and invited Emirati authorities to visit Brazil. “This exhibition is a unique event for us to meet, exchange information, have access to the latest technology, as well as seek to make up for what is lacking in each of our countries. We complement each other,” said the president.
He stated the way the two countries relate is the best possible. “You live in our hearts. You help us a lot with our economy. This plurality seeks solutions, as we had partners last year at the critical moment of COVID. Our peoples are more and more alike, our borders are getting closer, and in this way, we are doing good for our peoples. As I’ve already come here twice, I hope your highness will come to visit us soon in Brazil. Brazil is open to all of you. I would like more people here to visit the Amazon,” he said.
The minister of Tolerance of the UAE and commissioner-general of Expo 2020, Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (pictured in the opening, with Bolsonaro), also spoke. “Brazil’s participation in the Expo addresses topics of mutual interest, such as biodiversity, agriculture, sustainable cities, green economy, resource efficiency, among other means to achieve future growth,” said the commissioner-general. He spoke of the UAE’s long-standing trade relationship with Brazil, dating back to the 1970s, with many bilateral agreements facilitating non-oil trade.
After a concert by the Brazilian group Choro Livre, which featured popular songs such as ‘Aquarela do Brasil’ and ‘Desafinado,’ Bolsonaro and his delegation of over 100 people visited the pavilions of Brazil, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and DP World, where he was received by the President and CEO, Sultan bin Sulayem. The president of Brazil also participated in a Jiu-Jitsu presentation, which attempted to break the Guinness world record for the world’s biggest class of the sport.
Expo 2020 Dubai announced it had already received over 3.5 million visitors until the first half of November. Brazil is the third most visited pavilion at the exhibition.
Abu Dhabi
After the investment forum and before the Expo visit, Bolsonaro went to Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city, to meet crown prince Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Al Shati Palace. The Brazilian press was not allowed to accompany the visit. According to the official news agency of the UAE, Emirates News Agency (WAM), during the meeting, the prince and president Bolsonaro discussed the relationship and cooperation between the two countries and ways to strengthen them, mainly in investments, economy, trade, technology, and sustainability.
They discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest, events in the region, and the pandemic, highlighting the importance of promoting cooperation to contain the humanitarian, health, and economic effects of COVID-19.
Expo 2020 Dubai was also a theme of the conversation with the prince. They said the event aims to create opportunities for several countries to explore innovative solutions in transport, water, and energy sustainability and create new opportunities to achieve economic growth. Bolsonaro congratulated Al Nahyan for the UAE being chosen to host the 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) in 2023.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
