São Paulo – On June 9, the Industry Federation of Maranhão State (Fiema) promotes the meeting “Maranhão for Business – Arab League”, in the city of São Luís. In its fourth edition, the event seeks to bring the state’s companies closer to different nations in the world. Michel Alaby, CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, will be one of the speakers.
“The business meetings within ‘Maranhão for Business’ strengthen the international cooperation relations between Maranhão and several countries in the world, attracting foreign investors, generating new business in the state and boosting Maranhão’s development”, says Vinicius Brito, manager of Fiema’s Business International Center.
He says that, in 2014, Fiema promoted three editions of “Maranhão for Business”, which were held at the cities of São Luís and Imperatriz. The first edition focused on Mozambique, the second one on the United States, and the third one was a joint event focused on Germany and Belgium.
“The business and qualification meetings promoted within the ‘Maranhão for Business’ project are admission-free and open to the community, allowing for the small, medium-sized and big entrepreneurs, besides students of technical courses related to the infrastructure and foreign trade fields, to have the possibility of experiencing an international business environment”, points out the executive.
The event will take place from 7 PM to 11 PM. Alaby’s presentation, “Business Opportunities in the Arab League”, takes place at 9:10 PM. “The idea is to present to businessmen from Brazil’s Northeast, and more specifically from Maranhão, the specificities of dealing with the Arab world, such as how to do business with Arabs and how to turn this contact with the Arabs a reality for the local businessmen”, said the Arab Chamber’s CEO.
“It’s essential that all states from Brazil’s North and Northeast work to encourage exports so Brazil can achieve growth”, says Alaby. “We encourage these states to look to these alternative markets, such as the Arab countries”, he emphasizes.
According to Alaby, in 2014, exports from Maranhão to the 22 Arab countries totaled US$ 159.4 million, and imports, US$ 747.1 million. “There’s a potential to be explored with food products, such as cashew and Brazil nuts, sweets and tropical fruits jams, beef and poultry, among other products”, he says.
“We can also seek to develop Arab tourism to the Maranhão state and try to develop tourism actions so that the state’s population visit the Arab countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and United Arab Emirates, among others”, he advises.
Alaby says that it’s important to encourage the Maranhão-based companies to take part in trade missions, fairs and exhibitions in the Arab countries. “The idea is to promote these Arab countries, to present to the local businessmen some market alternatives to be developed”, he explains.
“Maranhão for Business – Arab League” also have scheduled other lecturers and a cultural presentation. The complete program is still being developed. The registrations for the meeting “Maranhão for Business – Arab League” are free and can be made until the opening day at http://migre.me/q443S.
Maranhão for Business – Arab League
Date: June 9, from 7 PM to 11 PM
Place: Federação das Indústrias do Estado do Maranhão – Fiema (Industry Federation of Maranhão State)
Avenida Jerônimo de Albuquerque, no number, Cohama exit, 5th floor – São Luís – Maranhão
Registrations are free and can be made until the event’s opening day at http://migre.me/q443S.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
