São Paulo – The minister of Industry and Trade of Egypt, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, arrives in Brazil on Wednesday (4), heading a trade delegation. His arrival in Brazil follows a trip to Argentina, where he signed a free trade agreement between his country and the Mercosur. The treaty, the first of the kind signed by an Arab nation with South American bloc, should also be the main theme of the talks Rachid should have with government and private organisation representatives, in São Paulo and Brasília.
Today, the minister should have a meeting with the board at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in the city of São Paulo. The president at the organisation, Salim Taufic Schahin, pointed out that the visit is important as it takes place right after the signing of the agreement and that Rachid is a figure of special relevance in the economic and political scenery in Egypt.
Schahin added that the board at the organisation would like to talk to the minister about possible ways to further expand economic and trade relations between Brazil and the Arab country. Egypt is currently the third main market for Brazilian products among the Arab nations, and the first in Africa.
"The minister likes Brazil very much,” said the president at the Chamber, who has already had other meetings with Rachid. In one, for example, arose the idea of establishing a Brazil-Egypt Business Council, to serve for exploration of bilateral business opportunities and provide a voice to the demands of businessmen in both countries. The theme may be discussed today.
On Thursday, Egyptian businessmen are going to participate in business roundtables with Brazilian companies at the Arab Brazilian Chamber. The delegation includes thirty people who operate in import and export of products like food, medical and pharmaceutical equipment, garments, agricultural machinery, electric material, fertilizer and cotton fibre. To participate for free, Brazilian companies should contact the Foreign Trade department at the organization (see contact information below).
On the same day, Rachid should travel to Brasília, where he has meetings scheduled with Brazilian ministers Miguel Jorge (Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), Celso Amorim (Foreign Affairs), Wagner Rossi (Agriculture) and Paulo Sérgio Passos (Transport).
On Friday, Rachid returns to São Paulo and has meetings scheduled with the Business Council of Latin America (Ceal) and with the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp).
Further information regarding business roundtables
Tel: (+55 11) 3147-4068
E-mail: comex@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
