For more than seven decades, the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has stood as both witness and protagonist of a fruitful partnership between the Arab countries and Brazil. Since the early days of immigration, Brazilians of Arab descent have worked hard to build a bridge capable of overcoming the geographical distance between Brazil and their countries of origin—lands they left in search of new horizons, carrying with them the knowledge of scientists and artisans from Egypt and the Levant, who accompanied Emperor Dom Pedro II on his return from a historic visit—a milestone marking the first official contact between the Arab world and Latin America.
The remarkable success of these Arab communities in integrating into Brazilian society—characterized by openness and hospitality—spurred the pursuit of a broader rapprochement with the Arab countries in cultural, social, and economic dimensions. This initiative found resonance in the dedicated work of the Arab embassies accredited in Brazil, united by two central purposes: on one hand, to elevate relations between Brazil and the Arab world to broader levels of cooperation; on the other, to value the enduring presence of Brazilians of Arab descent as an essential link in strengthening these ties, reinforcing the partnership with Brazil—a friendly country with which we share the commitment to promote peace and spread it among our peoples and throughout the world.
It was this spirit that came to mind when I received from Mr. Mohammad Murad, Secretary-General of the ABCC, the commemorative silver plaque presented on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the League of Arab States.
This plaque symbolizes a partnership that unites the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil—composed of eighteen embassies—and the Arab League Mission with the ABCC. It is an alliance in which visions align, and objectives complement each other, always guided by the well-being of the Arab peoples and the Brazilian people, a loyal friend and strategic partner.
We have much to accomplish in the next chapters of this journey. There are many ideas, and they all converge toward the same goal: to achieve the best, the most promising, and the most beautiful for our nations.
The periodic meetings between the Council and the ABCC, the economic forums they promote, as well as the visits organized by the Council—and arranged by the ABCC—to various Brazilian states, the most recent being to the city of Belém, are concrete examples of a dynamic and constantly evolving partnership. These are actions that will undoubtedly continue and multiply.
*Ambassador Qais Shqair is the Head of the League of Arab States Mission in Brazil.
**Translated by Moein Alaia & Guilherme Miranda
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
