São Paulo – The novel coronavirus pandemic is leading to cooperation among different rungs in the supply chain and paving the way for countries to launch into new partnerships, particularly when it comes to logistics. This was one of the conclusions of the international webinar hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce this Wednesday (22). The live stream got some 700 viewers in Brazil and worldwide, with simultaneous translation into Brazilian Portuguese and English.
“Everything that was said here attested to this collaboration at every step of the chain, from production to logistics, so that goods can reach their destination,” said Arab Chamber president Rubens Hannun (pictured above) as he wrapped up the webinar.
Hannun inquired whether this could be the time for fast-tracking agreements between countries. He noted that the Arab Chamber has been discussing for some time now the creation of direct shipping lanes connecting Brazil – and the broader South America – to the Arab countries. “Could this be the time to discuss moving faster with this?”, he asked the speakers.
The Arab Chamber and the Union of Arab Chambers have begun a study to that end, with the approval of the Arab League. Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) College of International Transport and Logistics dean Sara Hassan Kamal Elgazzar was a speaker in the webinar. She discussed the ongoing study: “This is an opportunity that we have now in face of this whole situation,” she said.
Elgazzar said every crisis brings opportunity, and the opportunity she envisions in Brazilian-Arab relations right now is in logistics. She believes logistics will enable higher value-added activities, thereby leading to increased Brazilian-Arab trade. “We are bringing these relations to a new era,” she said.
The dean proposed that Brazilian industrial zones or logistics hubs be created in the Arab countries, so value can be added to products before they get shipped off elsewhere. She also suggested that strategic alliances be formed by Brazilian and Arab seaports for the sharing of data and technology. “I do believe now is the time to partner up and create new hubs,” said National Confederation of Transport (CNT) Transport Development coordinator Fernanda Rezende, who was also featured in the webinar.
The Arab Chamber had already suggested that one way to go about creating direct shipping lanes would be to set up a binational company to do so. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to move forward with this,” said Rubens Hannun, who offered to have the Chamber work on the project alongside other entities and organizations.
In addition to representatives and executives from companies and entities, the webinar was viewed by authorities in Brazil and the Arab countries, including the UAE consul general to São Paulo, Ibrahim Salem Alalawi, the Arab League ambassador to Brazil, Qais Marouf Kheiro Shqair, and the Arab Chamber’s board chairman Walid Yazigi, among other Chamber board members and C-level executives.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
