São Paulo – The Lebanese minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Gebran Bassil, spoke for the increase in bilateral trade with Brazil, especially Lebanese exports, this Friday (11th) in São Paulo. “The [trade balance] is extremely lopsided, we are in the 11th position among Arab countries [in business volume with Brazil],” he said during a luncheon hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
According to figures supplied by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Chamber, Brazilian exports to Lebanon grossed US$ 143 million in the first half this year, whereas imports amounted to a meagre US$ 1.71 million.
As a case in point, Bassil said Lebanon could supply its wines and olive oils, which are traditional products in the Arab country, despite being little known on the Brazilian market.
The Arab Chamber president Marcelo Sallum added that balancing out trade is “a big challenge,” but said the export portfolio “must and can be made broader.”
To that end, they both celebrated the agreement signed by the two countries last Thursday (10th), during Bassil’s visit to Brasília, allowing for the issuing of multiple-entry visas valid for up to three years for business and leisure travellers alike.
The minister told ANBA that the measure will facilitate the transit of people, which is “not as high as it should,” and commercial exchange. Bassil pointed out that there are 8 million Lebanese natives and descendants in Brazil, and yet this “vast human contingent” is not reflected in other areas.
"There is much mutual affection, but it does not translate into economy, commerce, tourism, culture or sports. There is room for improvement, for translating this into interchange,” the FM said.
Along similar lines, Sallum said the visa agreement and other treaties signed by Bassil during his visit will facilitate “traffic for executives and tourists.” “There is a reciprocal desire to strengthen bilateral ties,” he claimed.
Both championed free trade agreement talks between Lebanon and the Mercosur – a subject first discussed during the Brazilian vice president Michel Temer’s trip to the Arab country, in 2011 – and the resumption of flights between the two countries.
The minister also told the attendees, mostly members of the community of Lebanese people and their descendants in São Paulo, that their country “has high hopes when it comes to receiving support from its diaspora.”
Geopolitics
Bassil also discussed geopolitical issues during his visit. He spoke on the Palestinian issue, the Arab Spring and the conflict in Syria. The latter directly impacts the political and economic stability of Lebanon, not only due to the proximity between the two countries in virtually every sense of the world, but also by the vast influx of Syrian refugees seeking shelter in Lebanese territory. “Lebanon struggles with problems which are larger than its own territory,” he said.
Last Thursday, Bassil met with Temer and the Brazilian FM, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado. This Friday, he convened with former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in São Paulo. The minister believes the Middle East’s problems, particularly terrorism, do not concern the region only, but the whole world.
According to him, Brazil’s stance when it comes to the issues affecting Lebanon is one of “understanding and empathy.” Bassil hopes these matters will be discussed by the Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the summit meeting due next week in the city of Fortaleza.
He said external support could help the region regain internal balance and protect “smaller countries, ethnical and religious groups.”
The luncheon was attended by the Arab Chamber CEO Michel Alaby, the Marketing vice president, Rubens Hannun, other board members, the Lebanese ambassador to Brasília, Joseph Sayah, the Lebanese consul to São Paulo, Kabalan Frangieh, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church bishop Dom Farès Maakaroun and other dignitaries.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
