São Paulo – Dubai aims to be the gateway for companies that aim to increase their presence in the Middle East and the whole of Asia. The statement was made by the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who participated in seminar Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), which is taking place in Dubai, up to Thursday (3). The objective is to attract foreign companies, mainly from emerging nations, to the emirate.
The event is being promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates. If, on the one hand, the Emirates gain investment, on the other hand, it offers profits and results. According to the organisation, the Emirates received US$ 112 billion in foreign direct investment in 2011. In three years, the volume of companies that operate in Jebel Ali free zone rose from 2,000 to 6,500.
Alaby believes that Asia, where part of the Arab countries are located, Africa and America are the world regions to be most prominent in the world in future. Information disclosed shows that approximately 400 million people should rise to the middle class in India and China by 2020. This challenge may, in Alaby’s opinion, become a great opportunity for countries like Brazil.
"I have the ‘AAA’ theory, meaning that America, Africa and Asia are going to be the prominent continents in future. South America is rich in mineral resources and foods; North America leads in technology; Africa is rich in ore and oil, but needs to improve public management of resources; and Asia should consume it all. Not just India and China, but also Malaysia, Indonesia, and, of course, the Arab countries,” said Alaby.
The CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber made use of the event to meet with representatives of the chambers of commerce of Arab countries and with representatives of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry for Arab Countries. Participating in the seminar are the minister of Economy of Turkey, Zafer Caglayanroup; the minister of Trade and Investment of Nigeria, Olesegun Aganga; the minister of Tourism of Argentina, Enrique Meyer; and of International Cooperation and Investment of Libya, Riadh Betthaieb.
Apart from them, representatives of African countries and Russia participated in the event, which was opened by the minister of Foreign Trade of the Emirates, Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qassimi. A fair for promotion of emerging countries was promoted alongside the seminar.
*Translated by Mark Ament
