São Paulo – Brazil’s special secretary for Strategy Affairs, Flávio Rocha (pictured), said in an interview with ANBA in Egypt that the Brazilian government is working on the creation of bills to facilitate investments from domestic and foreign companies in the country. Rocha is leading a mission to nine Arab countries and had appointments in Cairo from May 20 to 22.
Rocha said that the government has proposed a bill to change the legislation with the purpose of facilitating and attracting foreign investment to Brazil. During the seminar held by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) as part of the mission in Cairo last weekend, Rocha invited Egyptian businesspeople to inject capital in Brazil.
The secretary said that the Brazilian government aims to build a strategic partnership with the Arab countries and Egypt in particular to strengthen the trade with the region. According to him, the government wants to boost the cooperation with Egypt so that it is no longer only a commercial trade but becomes a joint production that could benefit both countries. According to him, Egypt could be a gateway for Brazil into the African market and Brazil could be a gateway for Egypt into Latin America.
Rocha stressed that there are promising opportunities for cooperation with Egypt in food security as Brazil grows foods that Egypt could benefit from, and Egypt has a large potential in fertilizers. The secretary mentioned some areas with potential opportunities for the Egyptians in Brazil like solar and renewable power, furniture, agricultural technology, information and communication technology, as well as seawater desalination, especially in the Northeast region of the country.
He pointed out the ties that bring Brazil and the Arab nations together, which include the presence of over 10 million Arab Brazilians, which account for 6% of the population. This shows, the secretary says, how Brazil is an open country with a diversified culture where all peoples live safely.
The secretary also expressed enthusiasm for the launch of a direct Cairo-São Paulo flight that could boost trade, investment and tourism between Brazil and Egypt. The Brazilian Tourist Board (Embratur), which is part of the mission, announced earlier this week that Egypt Air plans on offering the flight later this year.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
