Isaura Daniel*
São Paulo – At the opening of the Brazil-Arab Countries Business Meeting, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), in São Paulo, the Brazilian financial capital, the Arab and Brazilian authorities present called the private sector to proceed with the process to bring both regions closer together, greatly expanded after the Brasília summit, which ended yesterday, in the Brazilian capital. Between today and tomorrow, businessmen from both regions will be participating in business roundtables at Hotel Renaissance.
"This meeting is the crowning of the diplomatic efforts made between the League and the Mercosur. Now it is your turn to expand the opportunities and spread throughout your cities and countries that we have a set of challenges ahead of us, and that their success depends on each person,” stated the minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, Luiz Fernando Furlan, to businessmen.
Furlan believes that trade between the 22 countries in the League of Arab States and Brazil may reach US$ 15 billion in the next three years and stated that for this just “a little” effort will be necessary from the private sector. Last year, trade was around US$ 8 billion. He recalled that this year there will be 15 events in the Arab countries for promotion of Brazilian exports and stated that during the summit the possibility of a trade mission to Morocco was discussed. “President Lula (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva) stated that if there is a consistent business mission, he will lend one of the aircraft in his fleet,” he said. “But not the new one,” joked the minister!
According to Furlan, agreements like the one signed between the Mercosur and Morocco and the Mercosur and Egypt are going to help increase trade. The minister explained that he has already received 900 requests from businessmen who would like their products to be included in the tariff preference treaty with Morocco and that this shows the interest of the Brazilian private sector. The Mercosur has already signed framework agreements that have started trade treaty negotiations with both Arab countries.
There will also be, according to Furlan, a business meeting with Iraqis in Jordan, with the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB). The Brazilian furniture distribution centre in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, should be expanded to other sectors. The president of the CCAB, Antonio Sarkis Jr., stated that the organization is going to spare no efforts to increase trade relations between both regions. He stated that he hopes the meeting in São Paulo may be translated into greater trade, more investment and more business.
The secretary general of the League of Arab States, Amr Mussa, also asked businessmen to work for the increase in trade between both regions. “Opportunities are available and the route is open. Difficulties in communication and the geographic distance are things of the past,” he said, at the opening of the event. “Now the ball is with the private sector,” he added. Mussa state that in case new laws are needed, to simplify the flow of trade and investment, businessmen should ask their governments.
Mussa recalled that the summit identified some sectors in which the Arab countries may invest in joint actions: trade, tourism, transport, energy and science and technology. He also pointed out the engagement of the countries involved in the summit in making foreign trade fairer and providing greater space to developing countries.
Apart from Mussa, Sarkis and Furlan, the opening ceremony of the event also included the participation of the minister of Trade, Industry and Economic Training of Morocco, Salaheddine Mezouar, the governor of the state of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, the president of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of the Arab Countries, Abdel Hakim Kemmou, the director of the Commercial Promotion Department of the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), Mario Vilalva, and the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Abdul Ahman Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.
*Translated by Mark Ament
