São Paulo – Investment and business opportunities in Morocco will be the theme of a seminar on Thursday (4) at the offices of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in the city of São Paulo. Morocco is currently an important Brazilian trade partner – in fourth place among the Arab countries that export most to Brazil and in sixth place among the main Arab importers of Brazilian products.
The objective of the seminar is to show how trade between the two countries may develop as well as the opportunities there are for investment in the Arab nation. “This initiative of Morocco, of showing the opportunities it has, how its legislation works, brings a greater vision of the country and mainly promotes investment, but also relations with Brazil as a whole,” said the Foreign Trade vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rubens Hannun.
Called “Business Meeting: Morocco – a strategic Brazilian partner”, the meeting is turned to companies. The characteristics of the Arab country will be shown, including political stability, strategic geographic position – making the country a platform for trade with other countries in Africa and Europe -, as well as some specific sectors like mining, renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure and civil construction.
Hannun stated that investment is the complement of trade relations and helps trade itself to progress. “Investment comes with maturity of relations, it requires confidence, appropriate legislation and long-term relations,” stated the Foreign Trade vice president. Several Moroccans, representatives of the Moroccan Investment Promotion Agency (AMDI), of the Moroccan Association of the Solar Energy Industry and of the National Federation of the Electric and Electronic Industry of Morocco should also participate in the event to speak about the country.
Brazil and Morocco have very balanced trade. In the first two months of this year, the Moroccans had revenues of US$ 136 million with exports to Brazil, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The main products sold were fertilizers, mainly phosphates, followed by sardines. In the same period, Brazil had revenues of US$ 120 million with sales to the Moroccan market. The main products shipped were sugar and maize.
Apart from Hannun, the speakers should include the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, the joint head of the Foreign Relations and Trade Department at the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), Antônio Bessa, the business attaché at the Embassy of Morocco in Brasília, Abdeslam Maleh, the Development director at AMDI, Adil Chikhi, and the head of the Strategy and Marketing Department at AMDI, Driss Sekkat, the vice president of the Moroccan Association of the Solar and Wind Energy Industry, Ahmed Squalli, as well as Malak Sbiti, who is responsible for the Brics Investment Department at AMDI.
Enrolment is free and is open to all. It may be done through the Marketing Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber (contacts below). The programme begins at 9:00 am, with registration, and ends at 1:00 pm. There will be simultaneous translation from English to Portuguese and vice versa. AMDI promotes the seminar in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, with the support of the Fiesp.
Service
Business Meeting: Morocco – a strategic Brazilian partner
Thursday, April 4th, 2013
From 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
At the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Av. Paulista, 326, 11th floor, São Paulo, SP
Information: (+55 11) 3283-4066 or members@ccab.org.br
Enrolment: www.ccab.org.br/arabe-brasil/br/home/eventos/encontro-de-negocios-marrocos.fss
*Translated by Mark Ament
