São Paulo – Hassad Food, a company in the food sector that belongs to the sovereign fund of Qatar, is investing US$ 1 billion in agricultural activities worldwide and Brazil is one of the countries the company wants to set foot in. “Hassad food would naturally look to opportunities within Brazil, given its position as one of the world’s major exporters of foodstuffs," said the company’s president, Nasser Al-Hajri, to ANBA, by e-mail. In late August, the executive announced that the company is negotiating participation in projects in the sugar and bio-fuels and poultry sectors in Brazil.
Hajri said that, despite the low cost and high quality of the animal feed, what impressed the company the most was “the ability of Brazilian sugar plantations to produce both top-grade sugar and bio-fuels."
He added that the company is evaluating a series of projects in several Brazilian states and in other countries in South America, especially in the areas of grain, cattle and poultry farming. Read the main stretches of the interview below:
ANBA – Why has Hassad Food decided to invest in Brazil?
Nasser Al-Hajri – Hassad is a premier agriculture and livestock investor whose aim is to achieve the highest returns possible by investing in countries with an abundance of produce. The organisation has the ability to manage expanding agricultural export production and to participate in food supply globally. Hassad food would naturally look to opportunities within Brazil given its position as one of the world’s major exporters of foodstuffs.
Do you already have other businesses here?
Hassad currently has investments under evaluation in Brazil and other South American countries, in particular grain, livestock, poultry, wheat and rice.
How much do you plan to invest in the country?
While we have no specific amount in mind for our investments in Brazil, around the world Hassad Food is investing US$ 1 billion to purchase and establish agricultural companies. Hassad views these as lifetime investments, adding cultural improvement, sustainment of the quality of life and mutual benefit to its citizens of the countries the company operates in. We deliver professionally managed commercial businesses with projects that deliver annual growth.
Do the sugar and poultry projects already exist, or have they yet to be built?
Hassad are evaluating existing and greenfield projects, judged on their own merits. Regarding acquisition of a Brazilian sugar plant, in addition to the low cost, what impresses us the most is the ability of Brazilian sugar plantations to produce both top-grade sugar and bio-fuels.
Where are these projects?
We are looking at opportunities in various locations within Brazil and around the globe. However, we offer our prospective partners full professional confidentiality of not disclosing finite details of our transactions until an agreement is in place between both parties.
With how many Brazilian companies are you negotiating?
We have a number of projects in various states of Brazil under evaluation at the present time and we hope to announce new investments in the near future.
Are you looking for opportunities in other fields?
Our long-term strategy is to invest in growing, manufacturing and supplying a wide range of staple foods, among them livestock, fruit and vegetables and dairy products. It is equally important to stress that Hassad’s investment has real benefits for all the communities we invest in. Our investment and development of farmland ensures valuable agricultural resources are being secured, developed and improved, as well as making Hassad’s world-class research and development facilities available.
*Translated by Mark Ament
