Muscat – The fact that it is a large producer of foods and has large industries places Brazil in a privileged position to become a supplier to Oman, a country located in the Arabian Peninsula. “We have keen interest in Brazil and its large producer and exporter companies, especially in foodstuffs,” said the Omani minister of Industry and Trade, Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan, during a meeting with the Brazilian minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge, in Muscat, the capital of the Arab country, on Saturday (18th).
Beef, chicken, sugar and coffee are among the items that attract the interest of the Omani government. “We are glad about the visit and the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships for trade. I hope our relations will be even stronger,” said Maqbool, who intends to visit Brazil to have a close look at successful industrial and agricultural projects.
“We are interested in establishing partnerships, joint ventures with Omani enterprises,” said Miguel Jorge. “President [Luiz Inácio] Lula [da Silva] ascribes great importance to the relations between Brazil and Oman, and I am here to make our closer ties official and to express our interest in being great trade partners,” he added.
Jorge was also welcomed by the minister of Agriculture, Salim Bin Hilal Al Khalili. Opportunities in foodstuffs, investment and technology were the highlights of the meeting.
Business opportunities between Brazil and Oman were also the subject of a meeting between the secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, and the vice president of the Omani Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jamil Bin Ali Sultan Al Lawati.
According to Alaby, the Omani market is very interesting for Brazilian meats, both poultry and bovine. “I want to see the Brazil brand on meats sold at supermarkets in Oman,” stated Lawati. According to him, the demand for food is growing sharply in the country. The Carrefour chain is going to open seven stores, and the India-based Lulu group should open another four by 2012.
According to Alaby, they also discussed participating in local trade shows to promote sectors such as food, building material, software technology and medical equipment, which are currently imported from Italy, Turkey, Germany and Spain. Oman also offers many opportunities in infrastructure, claimed Lawati.
The Omani Chamber should promote a mission to Brazil. ”These closer ties make all the difference in stimulating business between the two countries. I believe that a mission should take place early next year,” said the secretary.
Wealth that comes from oil
The main economic indicators of the beautiful and wealthy Oman, which has a population of 3.4 million and a GDP of US$ 53.7 billion, remain attached to petroleum, rendering the economy vulnerable to volatility in the product’s prices and the decline in domestic ouput.
The reserves are limited and should be depleted in less than 20 years, according to estimates. The main company in the country is Petroleum Development Oman, which is predominantly state-owned, and holds exploration rights until 2034.
Thus, in addition to economic diversification, the sultanate is faced with the challenge of creating jobs for a rapidly growing population. The country’s social policies include investment in education, professional and technical training to the local workforce.
The country estimates that by 2020, its economy will not be as oil-dependent, having diversified into sectors such as tourism, given the diversity of its natural landscapes, historical sites and monuments.
*The journalist travelled by invitation of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
