São Paulo – Sustainability and innovation are essential for Brazilian agribusiness to conquer international markets. This was one of the highlights of the debates this Thursday (24) at the “How to promote sustainable agribusiness in Brazil for bilateral cooperation with the United Arab Emirates” event at Expo 2020 Dubai. The director of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s (ABCC) international office in Dubai, Rafael Solimeo, was the moderator.
The event took place as part of the schedule organized by Itaipu Binacional and Itaipu Technological Park (ITP) with the support of the ABCC at the world exhibition taking place in the UAE. Hosted in a hybrid format, the discussions had in-person speakers and online participations. Specialists spoke on the importance of protecting water sources and the environment for Brazil to sustain production in the long term and supply the markets.
Solimeo recalled the Arab world ranks third in terms of Brazilian exports and, in the region, the UAE are the leading buyer. He said it is possible to significantly improve this relationship, especially with investments in technology. The western part of Paraná, the area of influence of the Itaipu Dam, is among the main hubs of Brazilian agriculture and concentrates large cooperatives. These, in turn, have the Middle East as one of the most important destinations for their exports, especially poultry protein.
Itaipu’s counselor, Cida Borghetti, opened the event; she highlighted Itaipu’s contributions to the sustainable development of Brazil and recalled the showcase Expo 2020 represents for business growth. “The Arab countries have an extraordinary potential and wealth,” she said, according to the press release. Itaipu’s sustainability efforts were detailed at the event, emphasizing the recovery of springs, the protection of watercourses, rural sanitation, and the conservation of soils and biodiversity.
Speaking at the event were the superintendent of Environmental Management at Itaipu, Ariel Scheffer da Silva; the director of Business and Innovation at the ITP, Rodrigo Régis; the president of the Coopavel cooperative, Dilvo Groli; and the coordinator of the RenovaPR Program, which focuses on renewable energy, Herlon Goelzer de Almeida.
Itaipu participates in Expo 2020 Dubai at the invitation of the Brazilian federal government and will host, until the end of the exhibition, a series of activities to show the interconnections between water, biodiversity, climate, and energy, also focusing on projects aimed at sustainability in the border region between Brazil and Paraguay, with emphasis on the preservation of over 100,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest. Check Itaipu’s full schedule of activities at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
