São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce is going to strengthen its partnership with universities and teaching institutions. The objective is to present business possibilities between Brazil and the Arab countries to an increasing number of students, who are the businessmen and consultants of the future, and to offer a broader view of those countries. For such, the Chamber makes available, to all those interested, the collection of the Commercial Knowledge Center, at its head offices on Paulista Avenue, in São Paulo. There, information may be found on economy, trade, tourism and culture in the 22 Arab countries.
“It is important for student to become familiar with the work of the Arab Brazilian Chamber and learn about the importance of trade with the Arab world,” explains the president of the organization, Salim Taufic Schahin, who believes that Brazilian exports to the Arab world should end the year with growth of 10% to 15% over 2009. “Not to mention all of the historical and cultural wealth of those countries. The Arab nations are home to fantastic culture and knowledge,” he claims.
According to the Market Development manager of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rodrigo Solano, the organization wants to cooperate more actively with universities. To him, relations with the Arab bloc are a theme of essays and theses, for instance.
In this respect, the Commercial Knowledge Space offers free material, such as information leaflets of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and manuals on how to establish a company in Egypt, including all of the benefits for entrepreneurs, elaborated by the country’s Investment Promotion Department.
A highlight among the books is the Portuguese version of the Koran, translated by professor Helmi Mohammed Ibraim Nasr, vice president of International Relations of the Arab Brazilian Chamber. The edition was printed at the King Fahd Complex, in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Other varied works are part of the collection, such as Foreigner’s Delight at all Amazing and Wonderful Things, by Paulo Daniel Elias Farah, Museum of Islamic Art – Doha Qatar, by Philip Sodidio, and Eastern Influences on Portuguese Language, by Miguel Nimer.
Students from institutions such as the Belas Artes University Centre and the São Judas Tadeu University, in São Paulo, among others, have visited the Commercial Knowledge Space. “We have even been visited by high school students from Colégio Porto Seguro, in São Paulo, who were doing research on international relations,” says Sonia Pacheco de Toledo, the librarian in charge of the Commercial Knowledge Space.
According to Sonia, aside from scheduling visits to the Space, universities and schools may request lectures on matters pertaining to Brazil and the Arab countries. “We want to deepen and diversify the work of the Space,” says Sonia. “It is not simply about book referrals, it is about following up students and offering help in whatever they need,” she says.
Many possibilities
The commercial assistant of Rio Grande do Sul state-based furniture manufacturing company S.C.A., Ana Paula Paura, is proof of what Sonia says. Holding a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in foreign trade and a postgraduate degree in International Affairs, Ana had her first contact with the Arab Brazilian Chamber in 2005. “Among other activities, I was involved in organizing a fair about Brazil and the Arab countries. That was when I discovered the Chamber,” she says. “I was welcomed with open arms and had all the support I needed,” she claims.
Ever since, Ana continued doing research on the matter, and even wrote an essay on it for her postgraduate work, with support from the Chamber’s professionals.
The partnership has gone so far that it led Ana to her current job at S.C.A., where she has been working since May this year. The company is based in Bento Gonçalves, in Rio Grande do Sul, and has 100 stores in Brazil and abroad. “I read an article about the company on ANBA and contacted the director who gave the agency an interview. I was invited to visit the company and here I am,” she says. “I recommend for all students to seek the Chamber like I did. The possibilities are endless.”
Service
Commercial Knowledge Space
Telephone: (+55 11) 3147-4174
Site: www.ccab.org.br/site/espaco.php
E-mail: conhecimento@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
