São Paulo – The embassy of Oman in Brasília celebrated the National Day of the Arab country with a dinner last Wednesday (20) night in the federal capital. The official day of celebration is November 18 and marks the beginning of “Oman’s rebirth,” when sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said rose to power in 1970. It’s also the birthday of the monarch.
During his speech, ambassador Amad Hamood Salim Al Abri (pictured, on the left) pointed out that this year sees the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Brazil-Oman diplomatic relations. “The trade flow between both countries rose to satisfactory levels at around 1 billion dollars per year, and the Sultanate of Oman is high on the list of Arab trade partners in Brazil,” said the diplomat.
Year-to-date through October, trade flow between Brazil and Oman reached USD 921 million, up 53% from a year ago, as per figures from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. “Next year, we hope that both countries will sign several bilateral agreements that increase mutual cooperation,” said the ambassador.
Al Abri listed a series of the sultanate’s recent achievements, such as reaching 14 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, women’s empowerment – since they account for 41% of the workforce in the public sector – and climbing 10 positions in the ease of doing business rank of the World Bank.
The ceremony featured authorities, diplomats and dignitaries from different countries, including congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PSL-SP), leader of his party in the Congress and son of president Jair Bolsonaro; director of Itamaraty’s Middle East Department, Sidney Romero; dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil and Palestine ambassador, Ibrahim Alzeben; other Arab ambassadors; and Arab Chamber president Rubens Hannun.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
