São Paulo – The Egyptian ambassador to Brasília (the Brazilian capital), Ahmed Darwish, met on this Thursday (10th) with representatives of the Brazilian Association of Auto Parts Manufacturers (Sindipeças) and stated that his country is interested in receiving Brazilian auto parts factories.
Darwish was accompanied by the Egyptian commercial consul to São Paulo, Mahmoud Mazhar. The meeting took place at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce headquarters and was attended by the secretary general of the organization, Michel Alaby, and the International Relations vice president, Helmi Nasr.
Mazhar underscored that Egypt has several agreements with other Arab countries, which may make it easier for Brazilian industries to enter those markets. "Those are very distant markets (for Brazil) and hard to reach." Egypt has a fleet of 17.3 million automobiles.
According to Darwish, Egypt has a vast market and is strategically located. The ambassador also stated that he is optimistic regarding the future of relations between the Brazilian auto parts industry and Egypt. "The Brazilian auto parts industry has a very solid reputation. Today, I suggested that instead of selling us the auto parts to meet the needs of our growing market, it would be best to have Brazilian factories or investment in Egypt."
He also talked about a cooperation agreement that Brazil and Egypt should sign during the visit of the Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, to Cairo, due December 27 to 29, 2009.
"The agreement will cover all areas, cooperation, international relations, trade, industry, coordination of our political views, which are similar in many ways and fields, among others," said the ambassador.
William Mufarej, the executive manager of Sindipeças, claimed that the association is conduting studies on the existing fleets in Egypt and other countries in the region, in order to ascertain whether the parts used there are compatible with the ones made in Brazil.
"Regardless of the fleet, we are going to tell our businessmen that there is an opportunity to establish factories in Egypt, to build a partnership, and then see how they evaluate it."
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
