São Paulo – A dinner on Thursday (10th) in Brasília gathered approximately 300 people for a later date celebration of the Arab Day, celebrated around the world on December 4th. The event was attended by Arab diplomats, members of the community and authorities from the Brazilian government. Michel Alaby, CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce was honored for his work on the promotion of relations between Brazilians and Arabs.
“I don’t deserve such an honor individually. In these 35 years in the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, many boards of directors helped me earn ever more laurels in this job of serving Brazil and the Arab countries”, said Alaby in his speech.
“Many of the former presidents and directors taught me how to work with the Arab people and business owners”, said Alaby, who mentioned names of former presidents of the Arab Chamber that contributed to create the history of the organization “culminating with the presidency of the current executive board and of Mr. Marcelo Nabih Sallum”, he emphasized.
“It’s important to thank all of the employees that supported me in the last few years, to whom I owe a great deal, since they contributed for the success of the work of fostering social and economic relations between the brotherly peoples”, said the executive, who also thanked the support of his family. “Family is the most important link in the chain of one’s personal and professional life”.
In the event, Alaby also reminded attendees of an Arab saying that, for him, is an important motto for his work. “To serve others and not to serve myself from others”, he said.
In a talk with ANBA, the executive said that he felt “flattered and very proud in representing our community”. “The honors were directed to all that contributed for me to receive this honoring”, he said.
In the event, Alaby received a commendation plaque from the hand of Ibrahim Alzeben, Palestine’s ambassador and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brasília.
Legacy
In his speech in the event, Marcelo Sallum, president of the Arab Chamber, emphasized the important contribution of Arabs for the areas of knowledge, such as science, chemistry, medical sciences and navigation, among others.
“As descendants of Arabs, we find ourselves in the obligation of keeping alive our roots and of transmitting to our children and to society our admiration and enthusiasm with the undeniable contribution to our ancestors”, said Sallum.
“Imbued with this spirit, the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce has been working for more than 63 years for the promotion of closer ties between Brazil and the 22 Arab countries. And it’s with a special pride and joy that we today watch our CEO and dear friend, Michel Alaby, be honored by the Arab Ambassadors Council as one of the leading figures of 2015”, said the organization’s president.
Also attending the event were ambassadors Lígia Maria Scherer, director of the Middle East Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil (Itamaraty), and José Marroni de Abreu, under-secretary general of Itamaraty’s Political Affairs, and the directors of the Arab Chamber Mohamad Mourad and William Atui.
The dinner also had presentations of folk dances of Palestine, Algeria, Oman and Egypt.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
