São Paulo – The minister of Infrastructure and Public Works of Libya, Abuzeid Omar Dorda, met yesterday (2nd), in Tripoli, with the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Salim Taufic Schahin, and stated that the country is open to new international partners. He wants to see Brazilian companies installed in building projects and modernisation of his country.
"Here (in Libya) there should be a great real estate development program, so I see opportunities in the building sector. There should be a great consumer market," said Schahin. According to the presidential advisor, Zein El Abedin Said, who accompanied the meeting, the government of Libya has projects to develop the whole of Tripoli and other cities.
The state-owned oil company, National Oil Corporation (NOC), also wants greater presence of Brazilian companies. Schahin met with the deputy president at the company, Faraj Said, who spoke about the Petrobras presence in Libya and about the interest in importing Brazilian equipment and services in the sector.
Still yesterday, the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber also met with the director general at the Libyan Investment Holding Company, Hussein Darrat. They spoke about partnerships and joint ventures between companies and about the attraction of investment to the Arab country. Another meeting was with the president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Libya, Jumaa Al Ufta. According to Said, the Arab Brazilian Chamber president placed the organisation at the disposal of the Federation to help improve trade ties between companies in both countries.
Trade balance
To level the trade balance between Brazil and Libya, which is currently negative for Brazil, Schahin stated that Brazilian companies need to invest more in marketing and promotion of products in Libya. "It is necessary to come here to show our face, to show products and prices," said Schahin, who participated on Wednesday (2nd) in the opening of Tripoli International Fair.
"I believe that Libya will receive Brazilian companies with open arms. There are many opportunities here," said Schahin. According to him, the Arab country was closed to the foreign market for a long time, but in recent years it has been opening up and receiving many enterprises, mainly from Europe.
Schahin recalls the importance of the Libyan market for the government of Brazil, which last year organised a trade mission to North Africa, headed by the minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge.
According to him, Brazil has much potential to increase exports to Libya and balance trade. "We may even have a surplus, but we have to be more aggressive on the market," said Schahin. Last year, exports from Brazil to Libya totalled US$ 373 million and imports from the Arab country reached US$ 1.4 billion.
Brazilian stand
The 38th Tripoli International Fair was inaugurated yesterday in the late afternoon and was open to businessmen alone. The Arab Brazilian Chamber stand received around 50 visitors, most from Libya, but also from Sudan, Russia and Egypt. According to the marketing assistant at the organisation, Filipe Gouveia Ferraz, the food sector was the most sought. Beef, sugar, coffee, milk and cheese were the main products requested by businessmen.
Trader Eduardo Moraes, from Latinex, a trading company in the food sector, stated that the Libyan market is more open and more receptive. "I am here to find new companies and to reactivate old contacts," he said, adding that he already exports raw material for juice to factories in Libya.
*Translated by Mark Ament
