São Paulo – Egypt aims to attract Brazilian companies to its market. For such, the new ambassador of the country to Brasília, Hassam Zaki, is spending two days in São Paulo, Thursday (21) and Friday (22), to talk to companies in several sectors, like aviation, confectionery and slaughterhouses.
"Relations between Egypt and Brazil are broad and diversified. We import several items from Brazil, like agricultural products, beef, chicken, iron and also have exchange in other areas, including aviation and industry. These meetings reflect the Egyptian interest in strengthening relations with Brazil in all these areas,” said Zaki, while visiting the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce on Thursday (21).
Zaki was in the company of the consul of Egypt in São Paulo, Ahmed Salah, and of the head of the trade office in the city, Alaa Radwan. They were met by the Governmental Relations executive at the Chamber, Tamer Mansour, and by the International Relations vice-president, Helmi Nasr.
The ambassador had meetings scheduled with representatives of Embraer (aviation), the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), Volkswagen (vehicles), Lula Institute (international cooperation), Coteminas (textiles and garments) and Marfrig Group (slaughterhouses).
Zaki was officially inaugurated as ambassador of Egypt in Brasília on January 23rd, when he delivered his credentials to president Dilma Rousseff. According to the diplomat, another of his objectives in the post is to reduce the trade deficit between both countries.
"Our exports to Brazil are below US$ 500 million. Brazil exports around US$ 2.6 billion to Egypt. We want to increase our exports to the Brazilian market. It is true that the Egyptian economy is currently facing hardships due to political matters, but we would like Egyptian companies to find market in Brazil,” he said. Among the actions being planned is the promotion of multi-sectorial fair for Egyptian companies in Brazil.
Regarding the Egyptian embargo to Brazilian beef produced in Paraná, caused by the death in the state of a cow that was confirmed to have the agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), mad cow disease, Zaki said that his country should wait for the government of Brazil to solve the local problem for the ban to be repealed. The animal had the agent in its body, but did not die of BSE.
"I met with the agriculture minister [Mendes Ribeiro Filho] in Brasília and we discussed the matter. He explained the problem and how he plans to deal with it internationally to repeal all embargoes to beef from Paraná. We will not be an exception. We are going to wait for Brazil to solve the matter completely and will be ready to recommend that our government suspend the embargo when the time is right,” he explained.
Political situation
During his visit to the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Zaki said he believes that the political situation in his country should present improvement in the near future. Egypt approved its new constitution in December last year, which did not calm the people’s protests, as they say the document sanctioned by president Mohammed Morsi does not answer to all the sectors of the Egyptian society.
"The Egyptians are conscious of their history and that society needs to move ahead, not back. I believe that the solution to these political questions is dialogue between parties in Egypt and think that that should take place soon.” To the diplomat, his country should focus on economic development.
"I hope that the situation simmers down and that the focus of everyone turns to economics. We need to focus on it for the good of the people and the society, as it is the structure for society,” he pointed out.
According to Zaki, Egyptian and Brazilian diplomacy are negotiating a visit by president Morsi to Brazil in the first half of this year.
“It will be the first visit of an Egyptian president to Brazil, which in itself is a historic movement,” he pointed out. “Furthermore, we have great relations with Brazil. We need to strengthen relations even further, to cooperate with Brazil in trade, industry and investment,” he said, strengthening his interest in taking Brazilian companies to his country.
"Egypt is a solid, important market with a solid industrial base and has access to many markets, like east Africa, Arab countries and Europe, and, in the textile area, it has access to the American market. We have many advantages. When the president comes, we will take these relations to a different level and that is what we hope for,” he said.
The ambassador added that Egypt offers a safe business environment and points out the potential of a market with 88 million inhabitants. "I believe that it is intelligent to invest in Egypt at the moment, as when you invest in a bearish market, you maximize your gains in a bullish market,” he pointed out.
*Translated by Mark Ament
