São Paulo – Businessmen from Mauritania want to import products directly from Brazil and have interest in buying several goods produced in the country, reported the CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, after meeting with entrepreneurs of the African nation in the capital Nouakchott this Wednesday (16th).
“Their major complaint is that they want to buy directly from Brazil, especially food products, since currently they buy Brazilian products via Europe (France, Italy and Turkey) and United Arab Emirates, paying more for them”, said Alaby. “The trading companies could take advantage of this market niche”, he added.
According to him, Mauritanians have interest in importing sugar, poultry, beef, fruit juices, footwear and clothing. “Currently, they are importing clothing and footwear from China, which are low-quality”, pointed out the executive.
Upon returning to Brazil, Alaby will pass on to the members of the Arab Chamber that deal these products the list of the Mauritanian businessmen interested in importing and their respective demands.
Ten businessmen took part in the meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Mauritania, in addition to the president of the organization, Mohamedou Ould Mohamed Mahmoud, the Chamber’s general secretary, Wane Abdoul Aziz, the general director of the National Union of Employers of Mauritania, Ahmed baba Ould Azizi, and the attaché of business of the Brazilian embassy in Nouakchott, Rubem Mendes de Oliveira.
The businessmen pointed out that, besides the domestic market, Mauritania supplies for some countries in the region, such as Mali, Senegal and Guinea Conakry. “Mauritania has a port and moves, via highways, imported food products to other African countries”, pointed out Alaby.
During the meeting, Alaby signed a cooperation protocol with the Mauritanian chamber. The idea is to encourage the information exchange between the two institutions and to establish bilateral events.
Diplomacy and construction works
Also on Tuesday, Alaby met with the minister attached to the Ministry of Foreign Business responsible for the Maghreb, African and Mauritanian matters abroad, Khadijetou M’Bareck Fall. He talked about the work of the Arab Chamber in the developing of the economic relations between Brazil and the Arab countries and she talked about the work of the Mauritanian diplomacy. “We complimented the work done by Mauritania’s ambassador in Brazil, Abdellahi Bah Nagi Kebd, who has persistently worked to improve trade and political relations with Brazil”, said Alaby.
The Arab Chamber’s CEO also visited the new airport in Nouakchott, where he was welcomed by Kebir Ould Sellamy, engineer responsible for the construction work. The place’s inauguration is scheduled for November 28th.
According to Alaby, the project was carried out by a consortium of construction companies from Mauritania, Canada, United States and Australia, with a cost of US$ 125 million and has four runways.
The executive went to Mauritania to prospect business opportunities for Brazilian companies. His schedule in the country started on Tuesday and ends this Thursday (17th).
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
