São Paulo – The city of São Paulo’s International Relations secretary, Alfredo Cotait Neto, and the CEO at Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the emirate, Saed Mohamed Al Awadi, discussed, on Monday (28), the establishment of an agenda to show business opportunities may and expand trade relations between the two capital cities of their respective regions. The proposal was discussed at the seat of the government of the city of São Paulo and the plan is for work from both cities to specify areas that may be explored in each city.
Cotait pointed out that São Paulo and Dubai are “hubs” in Latin America and the Middle East, respectively, and, for this reason, must have more intense trade relations. “We cannot ignore this connection between the two cities. We are two hubs and it is possible to expand these ties,” he said.
To the joint municipal International Relations secretary, Guilherme Mattar, São Paulo could export its experience in sustainability. “We have examples of excellence in generation of energy from garbage. The Arabs, of course, have much experience in infrastructure,” he said, as examples of sectors for potential cooperation.
Awadi, in turn, stated that Dubai is competitive in the sectors of trade and services. “We are very strong in the area of gold, aluminium and metals. We also have good communications services, marketing, media, information technology and also the financial sector. We want to promote these products in South America, starting in São Paulo,” he said.
Awadi is the head of a delegation of exporters from Dubai who are visiting São Paulo this week. On Monday morning, the delegation visited the offices of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. In the afternoon, part of the group visited the Port of Santos, on the coast of São Paulo. On Tuesday, businessmen are going to participate in business roundtables at the Arab Brazilian Chamber.
*Translated by Mark Ament
