Dubai – On Sunday (12), in Doha, Qatar, Brazilian construction companies had the opportunity to learn about a series of projects to be developed in the country and to make contact with local companies seeking partners. Those present were the representatives of Andrade Gutierrez, OAS, Queiroz Galvão, Odebrecht and Fidens, from Belo Horizonte, and they participated in a breakfast with around 60 businessmen from Qatar.
By 2018, Qatar plans to invest US$ 26 billion in transport infrastructure, much of it targeted on the 2022 World Cup, to take place in the country, according to figures disclosed during the meeting.
“There is space for Brazilian construction companies to operate as subcontractors for these local companies”, stated Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce CEO Michel Alaby, who accompanied the event. Odebrecht, Andrade Gutierrez and OAS have representatives in the country.
The trip by construction companies to Doha is part of a delegation to the Middle East promoted by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) that should also include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The manager of the Apex Business Centre in Dubai, in the Emirates, Sidney Costa, recalled that Brazilian companies offer experience in projects for large-scale sports events, as Brazil should receive the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
To provide support to Brazilian businessmen in Qatar, Apex opened an office in Doha, also managed by Costa. He also spoke about the investment opportunities in infrastructure in Brazil.
After the breakfast, the Brazilian executives had meetings with representatives of Qatari companies, “with good future business perspectives,” said Alaby. The list of local companies participating included construction companies, real estate companies, engineering and architecture organisations, funds, banks and even the country’s state-owned oil company, as well as some multinationals.
The Brazilian delegation also visited works in progress in Doha. The event included the Brazilian ambassador, Tadeu Valadares, the head of the Trade and Investment Promotion Department at the Brazilian Foreign Office, Rubens Gama, and the Apex Image and Market Access coordinator, Ricardo Santana, among others.
Translated by Mark Ament
