São Paulo – This Wednesday (8), International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Bahrain in Brasília paid homage to women who collaborated to strengthen the ties between Brazil and Bahrain. The Corporate & Institutional Services coordinator and executive secretary of the Presidency of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), Ana Cristina de Oliveira, was one of the recipients. Pictured above, Oliveira receiving a certificate of honor from the Bahraini ambassador to Brazil, Bader Abbas Al-Helaibi.
“I feel much honored with this appreciation. In these 20 years at the ABCC, I have dedicated my work to ethics and the mission of the institution I represent. It is a thrill to know my professional activity contributes to something more significant: My country’s relationship with Bahrain and other Arab countries. I am very grateful for the recognition by the Embassy of Bahrain and the generosity of the homage, not only to me but also to several other women who work to bring our countries closer together,” said Oliveira to ANBA.
The executive has been at the ABCC since September 2003. A member of the women’s committee of the entity; WAHI – Women Who Inspire, Oliveira has an MBA in Executive Advisory; a bachelor’s degree in Executive Secretariat; a technologist in Human Resources Administration; and took several additional courses; Ceremonial, Protocol, and Etiquette; Organization of Corporate Events; and Purchasing Management. One of her duties is to advise the ABCC on relations with Arab embassies in Brazil.
In addition to Oliveira, other women were honored by the embassy through ambassador Al-Helaibi. They were congresswomen Bia Kicis and Caroline de Toni, ambassadress Yusra Allaith, Renata Zuquim, Claudia Meireles, Elna Souza, Fabiana Ceyhan, Mirelle Nashe, Layla Karmous, Rose Nofal, and Claudia Borges. Other Arab diplomats attended the event, which took place at the Coco Bambu restaurant in Brasília. Participants watched a video on women’s participation in Bahrain’s society and economy. Honorees received a certificate from the embassy.
Al-Helaibi took over as Bahrain’s ambassador to Brazil in 2021, the same year Brazil opened its embassy in Manama. The two countries have close ties. Brazil exports mainly iron ore to Bahrain, with USD 1.3 billion in revenue in 2022, representing almost all of the Brazilian sales to the country, USD 1.4 billion. Bahrain exported USD 243 million in goods to Brazil in 2022, primarily oil, aluminum, and fertilizers.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
