Abu Dhabi – Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro arrived in Abu Dhabi, UAE early this Saturday evening (local time). He was welcomed at the airport by UAE Energy and Industry minister Suhail Al Mazrouei (pictured, on the right) and then paid a visit to the Wahat Al Karama – Oasis of Dignity –, a memorial to the martyrs who were killed in action. During a subsequent press conference, he named the main reason for his Gulf tour: business. Bolsonaro is also slated to travel to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
“A president is often like a business card, a token of friendship and cooperation. There’s business available (for the Arabs) in Brazil and there’s business for us here too, so this is our intention,” said Bolsonaro. On Tuesday morning (27), the president will attend the opening of a business seminar for executives from Brazil- and UAE-based enterprises.
The event will be attended by businesses and associations from industries including technology, agribusiness, food products, capital goods, oil, energy, mining, defense, financial services, leather and footwear, healthcare, chemicals, aerospace, construction, cosmetics, advertising, vehicles, logistics, metals and electric materials.
Major Brazilian corporations will be present, including BRF – which owns brands Sadia and Perdigão –, Embraer, Helibras, Petrobras, Marcopolo, Marfrig, Minerva, JBS, Seara, O Boticário, Tramontina, Vale, and Weg. The seminar is organized by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with support from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
“There’s a lot of diversity in this trip and we had a great welcome. It’s a sign that Brazil is regaining its trust, and obviously this is a good thing for our people,” said Bolsonaro.
The president pointed out that although Brazil exports mostly commodities to the region, especially poultry, beef and sugar, he expects economic relations to branch out into different fields.
“What we expect is the question of investments, infrastructure. They will probably join the pre-salt bidding round [November 6], and then there’s also the question of research and development. There’s a lot that we’re going to show them during this trip, and the intention is to open the doors to good endeavors,” he said.
Qatar Petroleum – from Qatar, which Bolsonaro is set to visit soon – won bids in four oil and gas exploration and production auctions in Brazil, the latest of which took place on October 10, in consortiums with other industry players.
Regarding the UAE, Brazil recently entered into an agreement to prevent double taxation of investments and a Cooperation and Facilitation Investment Agreement (CFIA). As a result, the administration is expecting to attract funds from the Arab country into industries such as infrastructure. The seminar will include presentations on several Investment Partnership Program (IPP) projects.
He stressed that Brazil needs foreign investment. “The [pre-salt oil] auction in itself, we do not have the ability to invest, that is why we do this kind of deal. What we intend with these measures, as [Economy minister] Paulo Guedes has so aptly put it, and as the minister of Mines and Energy [Bento Albuquerque] put it, is to drive down the prices of these products in Brazil, which are very high,” he said.
According to the president, there are no guarantees that the investment will come, but he said “Since we are being treated so well [here in the UAE], it is clear that these deals will soon become reality.” He also said that agreements and other negotiations take time to be completed.
Defense
Many of the delegates traveling alongside the president are in the defense industry, and agreements regarding the sector might be signed with the UAE. Bolsonaro declined to comment, but said such deals are mentioned in every country he visits. “Every country is ready to negotiate when it comes to this. Wherever I go, the defense issue is on the table. The first one to deal with it is [Defense] minister Fernando [Azevedo e Silva], and of course I will give my input in the end,” he said.
“We’re becoming closer and closer with capitalist countries, economically speaking,” the president concluded.
At the Wahat Al Karama, Bolsonaro was joined by Brazil’s ministers Ernesto Araújo, of Foreign Affairs, Marcos Pontes, of Science and Technology, Osmar Terra, of Citizenship; by Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni, Brazil’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Fernando Igreja, UAE ambassador to Brasília, Hafsa Al Ulama, and other authorities. He was welcomed by Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office director Khalifa Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.
Bolsonaro brought flowers to the martyrs’ memorial. He then visited an art installation representing the seven United Arab Emirates, surrounded by plaques bearing martyrs’ names, and signed the visitors’ book.
After the seminar on Sunday, the president will meet with Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE ministers. He’ll also have meetings with Dubai vice president, prime minister and ruler Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Bolsonaro is also expected to watch a Jiu-Jitsu demonstration and visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
