São Paulo – The Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining in Tunisia, Kamel Ben Naceur, has visited São Paulo this week in search of new trade partners for the North African country. This Monday (5th), he was in the opening of the 30th São Paulo State Supermarket Association (Apas) and inaugurated the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s new stand.
“I’ve come to promote the new Tunisia”, Naceur told ANBA during the event. This Tuesday (6th), he will participate in the Forum “Brazil-Tunisia Partnership: Opportunities to embrace”, organized by the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), with the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber. Check some of the main segments of the interview:
ANBA – What is the reason of your visit to Brazil and the Apas fair?
Mohamed Bem Naceur – I’ve come to promote a new Tunisia, after the revolution in 2011, in which we adopted a new Constitution. This Constitution was the result of a national dialog, and now will bring free, democratic and transparent elections. It is what we are calling “start-up democracy”. We are promoting the expansion of business and investments. The trade with Brazil can be much larger. We can establish a partnership between Brazil, Tunisia and other North African countries.
In which areas can business thrive?
We are also having a forum to introduce the new Tunisia. We have businessmen interested in trading with Brazil and we have products which are interesting to Brazil, such as fertilizers. Our fertilizer production dropped in the past years, but it is already recovering to their highest levels..
In what other sectors can Brazil and Tunisia expand their trade and promote technical partnerships?
The countries operate heavily in the agriculture. Tunisia has olive oils to export. Conversely, Brazil has expertise in sectors such as processing poultry and production of eggs, in which we could work together. We also have industry, especially the development of the aeronautic industry. We could have a cooperation of companies in this sector, such as Embraer, to export parts and products to Europe, as we don’t pay taxes. The fastest growing aeronautic market is the Middle East’s and we are next to it.
What does Tunisia need the most today?
The revolution took place due to the desire of the people to obtain decent work conditions and to develop the regions of the country which were not so advanced. We need more investments and we have to better suit the country’s need for growth to the education we offer, besides developing the needy regions. The coast area is where Tunisia is most developed. We need to develop into the countryside.
You are meeting with Brazilian companies in this visit to São Paulo. Can you tell us which companies are and the topics of these meetings?
One of them is Vale, which has expertise in the mining segment. We might work on the sustainable development of phosphate mines in Tunisia.
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
