São Paulo – Egyptian authorities reaffirmed their trust in Brazilian meat and their disposition to continue doing business with Brazilian exporters in meetings held with representatives from the sector during the past weekend and this Monday (24) in Cairo.
According to information provided by the CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who took part in the meetings, Egypt’s vice minister of Agriculture, Mona Mehrez, has said, for instance, that there’s a product supply from European Union countries and from India, but that Egyptians prefer to continue to deal with Brazil “since they know the quality of Brazilian meat.”
Egypt is one of the main importers of beef from Brazil and the 10th market for Brazilian poultry abroad. Although the country suspended purchases from Brazil after the launch of operation Carne Fraca by Brazil’s Federal Police in March, it backtracked on the decision a few days later. The operation is investigating irregularities in meat processing plants and the bribing of inspectors from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Besides Alaby, also taking part in the meeting with the vice minister this Monday was Ruy Amaral, Brazil’s ambassador in cairo, and Antonio Jorge Camardelli, the president of the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec), among others. They also met with the head of the Sanitary Quarantine Department of Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture, Ahmad Abdel Karim Badih, who said that the issue brought by Carne Fraca was solved and that the suspension remains for only two processing plants. Mona Mehrez gave thanks for the information provided by the Brazilian embassy after the operation was launched.
The Brazilians also met with officials from the Ministry of Defense, which is interested in importing from 15,000 to 20,000 tons of beef per month from Brazil. Camardelli said that he will meet with representatives from the meat processing plants that are members of the association to ensure the supply for at least six months.
Taking part in this meeting were Egypt’s vice-minister of Defense for International Affairs, general Mohamed El Keshly, and other officials from the ministry. The leadership of sector associations, executives from meat processing plants and diplomats attended from the Brazilian side.
On Sunday, the Brazilian embassy, Abiec, the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) organized a barbecue in a Cairo hotel to promote the Brazilian product. Among the guests were Egyptian government officials, diplomats and business owners.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
