São Paulo – Expanding trade negotiations into new sectors and advancing discussions on partnerships and investment were the focus of a Brazilian business mission organized by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) to Tunisia and Morocco, two Arab countries in North Africa, last week. Six companies took part in the delegation, whose agenda included seminars, visits to trade fairs, ports, chambers of commerce and local development agencies, as well as one-on-one meetings between Brazilian participants and local businesses.
The mission included executives and business leaders from Pegada (footwear), Embelleze (cosmetics), Grupo Intelli (electrical products), Agroexport (agribusiness), Manuel e Vitta (law firm), and Verano Vitivinícola Tropical (winery). They were accompanied by representatives of the ABCC: President William Adib Dib Jr., who led the delegation, Institutional Relations Director Fernanda Baltazar, and Egypt Office Director Michael Gamal Kaddes.
“It was a surprising discovery for the businesspeople. Even though most of them had been to the region before, these countries have changed dramatically over the past decade and have attracted significant investment,” Dib told ANBA.
The ABCC’s president said the companies were pleased with the outcome of the B2B meetings and with the warm reception from chambers of commerce, agencies, and local business partners. “It was a very fruitful mission,” Dib said.
The first stop was Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, from June 6 to 9, in a program organized in partnership with the UTICA commerce union and the Export Promotion Center of Tunisia (CEPEX).
Kicking off the agenda, the Brazilian delegation was welcomed by UTICA chief Samir Majoul at a dinner attended by CEPEX representatives and local business leaders, providing an opportunity to begin discussions. The program in Tunisia included a seminar at UTICA headquarters, a visit to the International Food Show Africa (IFSA), bilateral meetings between Brazilian and Tunisian companies, and visits to cultural and historical sites, as tourism is an important sector of the Tunisian economy.
The president of the ABCC met with Tunisia’s Trade and Export Development Minister Samir Abid, Tourism Minister Sofiane Tekaya, and Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.
Representatives from UTICA and CEPEX also attended the meeting with Minister Abid. CEPEX was responsible for organizing the Tunisian products showcase at the APAS Show food trade fair in São Paulo in May.
“They were very pleased with the participation of the Tunisian delegation at APAS. The Brazilian market is strategic for them,” Baltazar said.
According to her, discussions with the trade minister focused on continuing initiatives aimed at the Brazilian market, including the creation of a working group, the participation of a Tunisian delegation in the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries, which the ABCC will hold in São Paulo on August 25, and the organization of a Tunisian Week in Brazil in November.
Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier
In Morocco, the mission visited the cities of Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier from June 10 to 13. The president of the ABCC and the director-general of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), Ali Seddiki, signed an agreement to establish a partnership and develop joint initiatives to promote Brazil in Morocco and Morocco in Brazil.
The business delegation also had the opportunity to meet with AMDIE specialists in their respective sectors during a session at the agency.
The Brazilian participants took part in seminars and B2B meetings at the chambers of commerce, industry, and services of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region, Casablanca-Settat, and the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, while also making parallel visits to local companies.
The delegation met with the Moroccan employers federation CGEM, with the presence of Brazil’s Honorary Consul in Casablanca, Yana Staykova, toured the Port of Tangier, and was received by Brazil’s ambassador in Rabat, Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola. The mission in Morocco was supported by the Brazilian Embassy in Morocco, the Moroccan Embassy in Brazil, and AMDIE. Brazil’s embassy accompanied the delegation throughout its agenda.
“We noticed a major leap in economic development in both Morocco and Tunisia,” Baltazar said.
Speaking specifically about Morocco, the director said she observed an economy that is becoming increasingly established, with substantial investment in infrastructure and growing interest in attracting new companies and fostering partnerships. “Major events will be held in the country, so it is an expanding market that deserves close attention,” Baltazar said.
Read more:
Morocco in step with the new geoeconomic landscape
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
