Isaura Daniel
São Paulo – The Arab countries were included by the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep) in the list of main destinations for regional export. The businessmen from Paraná target increasing their export by around 30% in the next three years, starting in 2005, and have selected five regions – the Arab countries, the Mercosur, the United States, Europe, and China – to focus on.
"I believe that export to the Arab countries may rise well above this percentage," stated Fiep president Rodrigo Costa da Rocha Loures. The state of Paraná already has strong commercial relations with the Middle East and North Africa. Last year, trade with the region totalled US$ 410 million. The result was US$ 61.5 over the 2002 result.
The Fiep, however, is going to make an effort, through its International Business Centre (CIN), to further increase these values. Yesterday (13), the president of the Federation visited the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), in São Paulo, accompanied by the CCAB regional director in Paraná, Kamal David Curi, and by the CIN New Business general coordinator, Henrique Santos, to establish a partnership.
The idea is that together the entities will identify business opportunities between Arab and Paraná state businessmen. "The Chamber will make a relevant contribution identifying the needs of the Arab world, and we will see how we can answer to these needs," stated Loures.
The target of the businessmen from Paraná is to increase industrialized product export to the five regions defined as priorities. Nowadays the main products sold by Paraná to the Arabs are chicken, soy, sugar, soy oil, wheat, paper, maize, and wood. The main buyers in the region are the Saudis, followed by Algeria and Bahrein.
Between January and May this year, trade between Paraná and the Middle East and North Africa reached US$ 164 million, representing 11.7% of the total Brazil exported to the region. Paraná is the largest chicken producer in Brazil. "We cannot stop paying attention to the Arab world as it represents great potential. As this improvement of relations is promoted, export should rise," stated Loures.
Tourism
Fiep also wants to attract Arab attention to Paraná. Apart from the coast with its beautiful beaches, of the cultural attractions of the capital, and of the famous Iguaçu falls, on the border between Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, the state has good business tourism. According to Loures, Curitiba is currently the second city in Brazil in number of events, and the state possesses a good hotel infrastructure.
Curi recalled that currently between 12% and 15% of the population is made up of immigrants and descendants of Arab immigrants, mainly Syrian and Lebanese. Most of these people live in the cities of Curitiba (the state capital) and Foz do Iguaçu. "Paraná attracts many Arabs due to its quality of life," explained the CCAB regional director. Curitiba is one of the Brazilian cities with the highest quality of life.
Apart from that, the strong presence of Arab immigrants has provided the region with good infrastructure in areas that are typical of the Arab culture, including typical restaurants and mosques.
