São Paulo – Malaysia’s ambassador to Brazil, Mohammad Ali Bin Selamat, met on Tuesday (18) with the president of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), William Adib Dib Jr., at its headquarters in São Paulo, to discuss ways to expand trade between the two countries, especially in halal products, which are produced in accordance with Islamic guidelines. They also discussed fostering investments and technical cooperation across various sectors.
The meeting was held at the request of the Asian country’s diplomatic mission and follows recent engagements between the leaders of both nations, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Lula visited Malaysia at the end of October on a business trip in which Dib represented the ABCC. In July, Lula hosted Ibrahim in Rio de Janeiro during a BRICS gathering. Tuesday’s meeting was also attended by food industry organizations and companies that certify halal production in Brazil.
Speaking to ANBA, the ambassador noted that trade between the two countries amounts to around USD 5 billion per year, which he described as “unsatisfactory.” “Our countries agree that this figure [the trade flow] needs to grow by bringing about partnerships, memorandums of understanding, and joint ventures to boost exports, imports, and investment,” he said. Selamat also noted that Brazil is already a major exporter of halal meats but could find even more opportunities for its products in the Malaysian market.
In his remarks at the meeting, Dib said, “You can count on us. Malaysia is not only a major market in its own right but also a strategic gateway to all of Asia, a region whose economic strength is only expected to grow.”
According to data from Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services compiled by the ABCC, Brazil exported USD 4.3 billion to Malaysia last year, up 5.9% from 2023. The leading exports were iron ore, crude oil, sugar, cotton, corn and coffee. Brazil, in turn, imported USD 1.5 billion from the Asian country—also a 5.9% increase—mostly integrated circuits, tires, telephone equipment, computers and margarine.
Selamat said that the next step to foster business and expand exports and imports should be the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The document is expected to be signed between the ABCC and Malaysia’s trade promotion office in São Paulo (Matrade).
Halal do Brasil project takes companies to MIHAS fair
Part of this “closer engagement” between the two countries has been underway since 2023, when companies participating in the Halal do Brasil proejct exhibited for the first time at MIHAS, Asia’s largest halal food fair. The project is spearheaded by the ABCC and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) aimed at promoting Brazilian halal products abroad. Since then, Brazilian companies have taken part in the exhibition three times through the project.
Alessandra Frisso, a director at the ABCC and executive director of H2R Insights & Trends, said it is essential to look at the business potential between the two countries from a market perspective as well. “It is important to understand consumers’ tastes and habits,” she said, referring to what customers in Brazil and Malaysia value when making a purchase and how they behave as consumers.
Representatives from Matrade, the Consulate General of Malaysia in São Paulo, Fambras Halal Certifier, Alimentos Halal Brasil, IS EG (also a halal certifier), Cdial Halal, the Halal Center of Latin America, Halal Approval, Brazil’s chicken and pork lobby ABPA, Brazilian beef industry group Abiec, and the São Paulo Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the meeting.
From the ABCC, participants included Secretary-General & International Relations Vice President Mohamad Orra Mourad, Director of Institutional Relations Fernanda Baltazar, Internationalization Projects Manager Fernanda Dantas, and International Relations Advisor Bassel Latif, in addition to Dib and Frisso.
Read more:
Brazil to join Malaysia’s halal fair MIHAS
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
