São Paulo – Trade relations between Brazil and the Arab countries and the opportunities to increase the volume of business will be the main topics of the lecture to be presented by Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, Michel Alaby, next Tuesday (12th) at the Syrian Arab Cultural Centre, in São Paulo.
Alaby told ANBA that the lecture “Economic relations between Brazil and the Arab countries” will show that it is possible to increase trade between the countries. “There is no doubt this is an important complementary partnership, especially in view of the problems which are arising between Brazil and Argentina,” said Alaby in reference to the difficulties Brazil’s neighbouring country faces.
Brazil’s exports to the Arab countries amounted to US$ 14.03 billion last year, down 5.3% from 2012, when exports reached 14.83 billion. Imports, in turn, grew by 2.7% to US$ 11.39 billion.
Commerce between Brazil and nations in Middle East and North Africa started to grow from 2003, when former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the region in order to promote the trade between the countries. In that year, Brazil exported US$ 2.1 billion worth of products to Arab countries. In the following year, sales reached US$ 4.1 billion and US$ 5.3 billion in 2005. Sales kept the upward trend in the following years.
The export portfolio, however, remains limited. Brazil exports mainly foodstuff and the Arab countries export fuels and fertilizers.
Service
Lecture “Economic relations between Brazil and the Arab countries”
Lecturer: Michel Alaby, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s CEO
August 12th at 8 pm at the Syrian Arab Cultural Centre
Rua dos Ingleses, 149, Bela Vista
For further information, please call +5511 3266-3441
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
