São Paulo – The governor of the state of Minas Gerais, Aécio Neves, discussed partnership in the food and renewable energy sectors with the Foreign Trade minister of the United Arab Emirates, Lubna Al Qasimi, yesterday (8th) in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country. “For many centuries, the Gulf region had its back turned on Latin America and vice versa. Thus being, it is time for us to come back together,” said the governor in a press release.
The governor, who arrived in the Emirates on Wednesday (7th), presented to the minister the potential for investment that the state has to offer, and talked about the partnerships that the state of Minas Gerais has signed with other countries. “The solidity of our economy stimulates investment and partnerships in Brazil,” said Neves. The state is one of the leading Brazilian exporters to the Arabs and, up to October this year, has posted US$ 584 million in revenues from sales to the region.
According to the minister, the government of the Emirates is very much interested in strengthening its ties of friendship and cooperation with Brazil, in particular in industry and agriculture. The matter of food security and supply was also discussed. Lubna also showed much interest in food production in the state of Minas.
The minister stated that the Emirates may be a gateway for the state of Minas to reach the Gulf countries and other Asian nations. “The Emirates are in an outstanding position within the global trade scenario. It is the key gateway to the region,” Lubna told the governor. The Arab country is the third largest re-export centre in the world, after Hong Kong and Singapore.
Brazil already has six registered companies in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to hundreds operating in the country’s free trade zones, nine trade agencies and 207 trademarks.
Mission to Brazil
Aécio Neves also met yesterday with Ahmed bin Zayed, the general director of one of the world’s largest sovereign funds, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), which has over US$ 1 trillion invested. According to the governor, a mission of investors and government officials from the Arab country is coming to Minas Gerais in 2010 to discuss new business prospects between the state, Brazil and the Emirates.
"We are placing Minas Gerais in what is currently one of the most expressive investment routes in the world. There is natural interest for Brazil, due to new perspectives that are opening in our country. And we are showing that Minas may be a privileged safe haven for this investment," said Aécio Neves.
Among the sectors of interest in the state of Minas, the ADIA directors mentioned energy, agribusiness and infrastructure. Minas has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 208 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 120 billion) and a population of around 20 million people. The state has both agriculture and industrial production as well as a strong service sector.
Textile sector
A group of 11 companies arrived in Dubai on Friday, in a delegation organized by the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (Fiemg), to participate in fair Who’s Next Dubai, in the textile sector. The event, which begins on the 11th and ends on the 13th, should be promoted for the first time in the Emirates.
The mission, to be headed by the governor, should also include a series of meetings with buyers and suppliers to the Emirates and other countries in the Gulf. In the first day of the event, the governor, alongside Fiemg president Robson Andrade and businessmen should meet the fair directors.
*With information from WAM. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum and Mark Ament
