Campinas – Aware of the business potential in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, mayors of cities in Campinas region, in the interior of São Paulo, plan to organise a delegation to Dubai in November. The idea is to bring together a group of up to 30 people to visit the main building sector fair in the Arab world, Big 5, to be promoted from November 21st to 24th. Apart from learning about sector novelties, businessmen and representatives of Public Organisations in the region may meet investors to make new deals for the cities of Hortolândia, Pedreira, Cosmópolis and Campinas, among others.
As part of the project, the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, visited Campinas on Thursday (14). At the regional headquarters of the Centre of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Ciesp), Alaby showed the profile of the countries of the region in talk “How to negotiate with the Arab countries”. He also discussed a trade delegation to Dubai with around de 30 people participating in the event.
One of the coordinators of the project is the mayor of Pedreira, Hamilton Bernardes Júnior, who is the president of the Development Council of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas. “Relations between Brazil and the Arab countries were very intense in the past, when we received many immigrants. Now, we are retaking this contact with the region, which allows us great market as alternatives to regions that have already been saturated, like Europe and China,” he said. He pointed out that the cities may promote good business in Dubai in sectors like fruit and machinery, which are important for the economies of these cities.
[[IMGNOT1] Ciesp director Natal Martins stated that the promotion of this delegation should help Brazil overcome difficulties that may affect sales of products to the countries of North Africa and the Middle East. “Brazil has a recent export culture, which started with the [Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency] Apex. But now we need to find new markets. With this delegation, we may overcome cultural obstacles,” he said.
According to Alaby, the project forecasts the delegation traveling to the region on November 19th and returning to the country on the 25th. Apart from visiting the fair, the visitors should participate in a seminar, meet businessmen in Dubai and also visit Abu Dhabi. The mayors of the cities of the region should meet with local businessmen in coming days to organize the group by late August.
To Alaby, if the project is successful, cities in the region of Campinas will find new markets for their products. “It is important to offer other regions, apart from São Paulo and other capitals, an opportunity for greater participation in talks with the Arab nations,” said Alaby.
*Translated by Mark Ament