São Paulo – The CEO of Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the emirate, Saed Mohamed Al Awadi, met on Tuesday (29) with representatives of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) and with Investe São Paulo, the São Paulo state government investment promotion agency. As informed by ANBA on Monday, Awadi is studying the possible opening of an office of his agency in São Paulo and the plan is to bring companies from Dubai to operate in Brazil.
He said that there are many sectors of the economy of the state of São Paulo that may receive investment from the emirate. “In Dubai, we are going to evaluate the information obtained in Brazil to define where we may concentrate our efforts. I will send professionals here to study the opportunities,” he said.
The director of Investe São Paulo, Sérgio Rodrigues da Costa, mentioned, for example, that the state of São Paulo manages 30 airports that could receive investment. “It is important for professionals from São Paulo and Dubai to talk and discuss the opportunities so that they may know how to identify the [correct] companies and to help them (the companies) to make decisions based on solid fundaments,” he said.
Awadi also met with the vice president of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), Elias Haddad. According to Haddad, Fiesp may help Dubai Exports find opportunities in São Paulo. He said, for example, that in 2006 a Brazil-Turkey business council was set up to promote bilateral trade and that, from 2006 to 2011, business was multiplied by four.
“Dubai and Brazil have enormous possibilities to increase trade exchange. Both countries have similar points of view, in the strategy aspect. São Paulo is a gateway into Latin America and Dubai is also one in its region,” said Haddad.
Awadi also had a meeting with the CEO of the São Paulo State Fostering Agency, Milton Luiz de Melo Santos. The executive at Dubai Exports was accompanied by the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby.
Roundtables
At the same time, businessmen in the Dubai Exports delegation who are travelling to Brazil participated in business roundtables at the Arab Brazilian Chamber. They met, for example, with representatives of the São Paulo State Finance department. “We came to learn about the products and to evaluate whether these companies [from Dubai] may set up shop in Brazil so that we may have a more competitive market, with the state government always buying more competitively,” said Maria de Fátima Ferreira, head of the Decentralized Organisation and Electronic Sourcing Department.
Members of the secretariat also met with executives at Shelfco Metal Industries, a maker of metal furniture, Naffco, of fire fighting equipment, and Micro Automation, of energy stabilizers. According to Ferreira, companies showed interest in setting up bases in Brazil. “The prices of the products are also very competitive,” he said.
On Wednesday, after two days of meetings in São Paulo, the delegation will head to Peru.
*Translated by Mark Ament
