São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce should honour one of the main businessmen in the Arab community in São Paulo on Wednesday (21). Lourenço Chohfi, aged 86, should participate in a night of celebration with 700 guests at the Syrian Sports Club, in São Paulo, due to his activities as Chamber president in two terms (1983/1984 and 1985/1986) and for his work with the Arab community.
Lourenço owned Tecidos Ragueb Chohfi, a fabric wholesaler established by his father, Syrian businessman Ragueb Chohfi. Before becoming a director at the company, Lourenço worked behind the counter and was later the manager of the shop on 25 de Março Street, a traditional trade district and focal-point for the Arab community in the city. At one time, the company sold 13 million metres of fabric a month and had over 75,000 registered clients. Apart from the headquarters in the centre of São Paulo, Tecidos Ragueb Chohfi had branches in 15 cities around the country.
Currently, Chohfi is dedicated to the family companies: Sociedade de Armazéns São Lourenço, Lobea Participações, Imobiliária São Lourenço and Ragueb Chohfi Empreendimentos Imobiliários Ltda. The businessman is closely following the construction of an industrial hub in Nova Odessa, on kilometre 118 of Anhanguera Highway. The Industrial hub is receiving investment of 480 million reals (US$ 280 million) and should be in the metropolitan region of Campinas. It will host up to 100 companies. In the first phase of the works, 100,000 square metres of leasable space should be delivered. The entire complex should cover an area of 800,000 m².
Apart from being a businessman, Chohfi is also a lifelong councillor at the Syrian Sanatorium beneficent home. He has also been a councillor at Club Homs and a member of the financial committee of the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital.
"I believe that he was the largest wholesaler in Latin America. He is an example in terms of character and defence of the family,” said Walid Yazigi, chairman of the Arab Brazilian Chamber board of governors and former organisation president (1981/1982, 1987/1988 and 1989/1990). "He followed me in the presidency at the Chamber, then was chairman of the board, president of the Syrian Sports Club and chairman of the board at the club. That is why the ceremony is organized by the chamber and hosted by the Syrian club,” said Yazigi.
Arab Brazilian Chamber CEO Michel Alaby recalls that it was during Chohfi’s term that Brazil lived one of its main financial crises. However, he helped the country. "He was the Chamber president from 1983 to 1986, at the time of the Brazilian moratorium. Iraq guaranteed supply of oil to Brazil without requiring credit. He [Lourenço] was one of the main players in this negotiation alongside the governments of both countries,” said Alaby. "He has always been open minded and dedicated. It was he who brought me to the Arab Brazilian Chamber in 1985,” he recalls.
Before the dinner, to be served in the noble hall of the Syrian Sports Club, Arab Brazilian Chamber president Salim Taufic Schahin will give a speech on the importance of Lourenço Chohfi to the Arab Brazilian Chamber, to the community and to São Paulo. Later a ten minute film will be shown in honour of Chohfi, who is married to Beatriz Jafet Chohfi, has three children and six grandchildren. He will be given a special present at the event.
To Schahin, the honour to Chohfi is "more than deserved". "He has always been a leader in the community in São Paulo, a businessman of great success. Later [after leaving the Chamber presidency], he stayed on as a member of the board. He has always been progressive. He deserves to be honoured due to who he is, as well as for having been the Chamber president and for helping the community,” said Schahin.
*Translated by Mark Ament
