São Paulo – The Arab and South American countries should be engaged in cooperation in the area of energy, according to the minutes of the final declaration of the 2nd Summit of Arab-South American Countries (Aspa), to take place on March 31st and 1st in Doha, Qatar. Through the document obtained exclusively by ANBA, both blocs propose to establish "mechanisms for cooperation and information sharing in the sector of oil, natural gas and other energy sources."
The sector is especially important for both regions. Many of the Arab countries are great producers of oil and gas and, in Latin America, apart from fossil fuels, there is, mainly in Brazil, a great renewable fuel industry. According to the minutes, which are still suffering changes, the heads of state and government of the Aspa "agree on exchanging information on procedures, policies and experiences for the optimal use of energy."
The initiatives in this area, according to the text, should take into consideration the need for development and transfer of low-cost technologies that may be "effectively implemented in developing countries". They should include technical exchange, transfer of technology and professional training, among other actions.
In the chapter about environment and sustainable development, both blocs recognized the importance of expanding cooperation in renewable energies and improvement of development of technology in the area, but taking into consideration the issue of food safety.
Brazil is interested in providing incentives to the international biofuels market, especially ethanol and biodiesel. The government of Brazil defends that this sector does not affect the production of food, and mentions the country itself as an example, as sugarcane alcohol has been broadly used as a fuel for three decades.
Last year, due to an initiative by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the International Biofeuls Conference was promoted in São Paulo, and included participation of Arab governments. The objective was to expose the pros and cons of this industry and disclose the Brazilian experience, considered successful. In the minutes of the Doha declaration, the Arab and South American governments congratulated Brazil for the organisation of the event and pointed out that there was an "open and informed" discussion on the matter.
The document adds that the United Arab Emirates have offered to host the Headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, established early this year in an initiative by Germany. If Brazil is a great hub for development and production of agroenergy, the Arab country, mainly the emirate of Abu Dhabi, wants to become a global centre for clean energy, despite being a great exporter of oil. The main objective in this area is the initiative of Masdar, which includes the construction of a city free of pollutants.
Science and Technology
The governments of both regions also agreed to increase cooperation in areas like the fight against desertification and drought, the improvement of the quality of the soil and of water, desalination of sea water, management of water resources, irrigation, conservation of ecosystems and promotion of ecotourism.
In the same area, the minutes of the declaration forecast the promotion of research and scientific exchange for the development of agricultural production and the promotion of inter-regional investment in the sector, with the objective of guaranteeing food safety for both regions.
After the 1st Aspa Summit, which took place in May 2005, there were some alternatives in areas like science and technology, like the promotion of seminars about water resources and desertification, two ministerial meetings focussing on the matter and visits by specialists in the Arab countries to projects developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). Countries like Saudi Arabia also have special interest in investing in the area of agricultural production abroad, aimed at supplying the local market.
In the document, both parties also refined their engagement with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, which include the reduction of global poverty by half up to 2015, and they are engaged in developing knowledge in different sectors to reach such targets.
Some projects of exchange in the social area already in development, with the exchange of know how between Brazil and Egypt regarding the Family Purse, a Brazilian income transfer program to impoverished families that the government of Egypt plans to use as a model. Also in Cairo, there were meetings between ministers in the social area of both regions, and Brazil has already offered to host the second meeting.
The document also discusses exchange in the area of education, with proposals for creation of a committee for development of actions in this area, the creation of a biregional centre for distance learning, the implementation of joint scholarship and exchange programs for students and the promotion of a meeting of ministers of Education of both blocs.
Read more on the topics of the summit tomorrow (19) on ANBA.
*Translated by Mark Ament
