São Paulo – The diplomat Flavio Marega will assume his post as the Brazilian ambassador in Saudi Arabia early next year, and his priorities will include working to end the embargo placed by the Saudi government on Brazilian beef imports ten months ago. The embargo was imposed following an announcement by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture in December 2012 that the mad cow disease causing agent was detected in an animal which died in 2010. The bovine, however, did not die as a consequence of the disease, which it did not develop.
“I will work to the best of my ability to demonstrate to Saudi authorities that several countries have resumed importing Brazilian beef. By the way, Egypt, a country which possesses close ties with Saudi Arabia, is back to buying meat (from Brazil),” said Marega in an interview to ANBA during a visit to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce this Monday (14th).
This week in São Paulo, the diplomat will attend meetings with the Association of Brazilian Beef Exporters (Abiec) in order to bring himself up to speed regarding negotiations on the matter with Saudi Arabia. The issue was also discussed in a conversation between the new ambassador and Michel Alaby, the Arab Brazilian Chamber CEO. He was welcomed at the Chamber by Alaby and by president Marcelo Sallum.
“There are no reasons, from a sanitary standpoint, for the Saudi government to go on prohibiting imports of (Brazilian bovine) meat,” said Marega. According to the ambassador, the next step to be taken with regard to ending the embargo is the trip of a Saudi delegation to Brazil, to speak with sanitary authorities in the country and pay visits to beef certifiers. The visit was scheduled to take place last month, but did not.
“My first task on arrival will be to show Saudi authorities that this mission to Brazil must take place as soon as possible, so they can witness our reality and consequently allow beef imports again,” Marega explained.
Bilateral trade
The new ambassador also said trade will be the main sector to be developed in Brazil-Saudi relations. “Saudi Arabia is the Middle Eastern country that does the most trade with Brazil,” he said. “Last year, bilateral trade amounted to US$ 6.196 bilhões, i.e. a volume indicative of a fairly balanced, virtually 50/50,” the ambassador said regarding trade flows between the two countries.
Marega noted that Brazil basically exports primary goods to Saudi Arabia, but is beginning to ship manufactured goods the Arab country as well. “There is a growing diversification of manufactured goods exports, led by Embraer’s aircraft, which it supplies to Saudi Airlines and to the regional airline NAS,” he said.
The diplomat also disclosed that he intends to reactivate the Brazil-Saudi Arabia Business Council, a group established in 2009 with the purpose of keeping CEOs and presidents of leading businesses in both countries in touch, but has not had its Saudi members defined yet.
The new ambassador’s work plans include promoting Brazilian participation at business fairs in Saudi Arabia, increasing the number of business missions between the two countries, and promoting bilateral investment. “Without a doubt, trade is the main focal point of my work, and I intend to work for various initiatives,” he said.
Culture and tourism
Apart from trade, Marega said there is room for culture and tourism fostering actions, despite the differences in tradition and religion between the two countries. According to the ambassador, for instance, photography exhibits could be held focusing on Brazil’s culture and historical heritage in Saudi Arabia.
“Another area to be explored is children’s literature, which is highly developed in Brazil; we could translate Brazilian children’s books into Arabic for distribution at Saudi schools, as a means for publicizing Brazilian culture,” he explained.
Regarding tourism, Marega bets on increasing advertisement of Brazil as a travel destination for Saudis. “Next year, with the World Cup (which Brazil will host), many Saudis will surely come to Brazil, because they love soccer, and this will help improve Brazil’s image as a major travel destination,” he said.
Back to the beginning
At age 53, Marega has dedicated 24 years of his life to diplomacy. Saudi Arabia was the country where he assumed his first post, working as a representative of the Brazilian government. “It will be a great challenge for me, and at the same time a gratifying experience to return to the country where I started my diplomatic career abroad,” he said. “He worked in Riyadh from March 1990 to October 1992, as head of the Commercial Promotion Department of the Brazilian Embassy in the Arab country.
It will be Marega’s first time as a Brazilian ambassador. In the past, he has served as a Brazilian representative at the World Trade Organization (WTO); he has also worked at the Brazilian embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay; was the sub-chief of the Mercosur Division at the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, in Brasília; the head of trade policy at the Brazilian embassy in Washington, DC; and he is currently a minister-counsellor for economy and finance at the Brazilian embassy in London.
Born in the city of Paranavaí, in the state of Paraná, but raised in Marília, in the state of São Paulo, Marega holds a degree in Law and another in History. He should be inaugurated in January, replacing the current ambassador Sérgio Luiz Canaes.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
