Alexandre Rocha
São Paulo – Representatives of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB) participated in the 38th seminar of Arab country chambers of commerce and of Arab chambers of commerce in other countries, which took place in Tunis. The main theme of the event was bringing the nations in the region closer to the European Union.
According to CCAB secretary general Michel Alaby, who was at the meeting, the participants evaluated that construction of a free trade accord between the Arabs and the Europeans became more difficult with the recent entry in the EU of 10 Eastern European countries. The event was promoted by the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture for Arab Countries.
Alaby suggested that this is an opportunity for the Arab nations to come closer to Latin America, taking advantage of the interest Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in promoting a summit of Arab and South American heads of state in December, in Brazil.
"This would also be an opportunity to organize the first talks about closer relations with the Mercosur (the Common Market of the South, a customs union between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay), for, who knows, in future, there to be a free trade agreement between both blocs," stated Alaby.
The Arab representatives also addressed the topic of their own free trade zone, initially forecasted to start operating in the beginning of 2005.
Exporters
Before, also in Tunis, CCAB representatives participated in a meeting with 40 Tunisian exporters, sponsored by the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre (Cepex) and by the Tunisian Union of the Industry, Trade and Craft (Utica). "We presented Brazil, its import policy, and discussed taxes and how to sell to Brazil," stated Alaby.
Among the businessmen present were representatives from the food, auto parts, decoration ceramics, and electrical equipment sectors. The Utica stated they would select a group of companies to participate at Expo Abras, a fair promoted by the Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras) in September, in Rio de Janeiro.
