São Paulo – Local leaderships in Rondônia state capital Porto Velho attended a workshop on Arab markets this Monday (15). They are planning actions designed to boost trade with Arab countries. The event was attended by executives and delegates from associations who learned more about Arab and African markets.
The meeting at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rondônia (FIERO) was attended by about 30 people. Presentations were delivered by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Afro Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (Afrochamber), in tandem with the Rondônia chapter of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae-RO).
A mission is in the works comprising executives from Rondônia-based businesses who’ll travel to Arab countries to look for investors. Sebrae-RO superintendent Valdemar Camata Júnior said business plans will be pulled together to be presented to investors next year. The idea is for participating businesses to make themselves available to joint ventures, private equity investment or capital injections.
Camata believes that the state has the potential to be targeted by Arab investment in industries that can supply global markets. The superintendent told ANBA that Rondônia is known as one of Brazil’s booming new agricultural frontiers. The state is home to 14 million head of cattle. It is the fifth leading meat exporter in Brazil, and the eighth leading milk producer. “The state boasts one third of the food industry in North Brazil,” said Camata.
But he believes that Rondônia’s potential for partnerships in trade with Arab countries isn’t limited to meats and dairy; it includes grains, soy, maize, coffee, and mining, to name a few. Minerals such as tin, manganese, gold, niobium and diamonds are produced here. The Sebrae-RO superintendent sees three prospective avenues for Rondônia-Arab trade: supplying goods to Arab countries; stepping up fertilizer imports from Arab countries; and becoming the target of Arab investors.
Executives from various-sized businesses sat through the workshop at FIERO, from industries including meat, nut, fish construction, education and clothing. Authorities in attendance included state governor Daniel Pereira, Porto Velho mayor Hildon Chaves, FIERO president Marcelo Thomé, Afrochamber president Rui Mucaje and Arab Chamber CEO Michel Alaby.
Alongside Arab Chamber International Business executive Fernanda Baltazar, Alaby gave an overview of the Arab market and answered questions from the audience. Attending executives were invited to join missions to Arab countries, including the Arab Chamber mission to Qatar next December and a mission of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) to Egypt in November.
In an interview with ANBA, Alaby stressed the state’s potential in agrifoods and its willingness to be targeted by Arab investment. He noted that Rondônia already ships beef to Egypt, with sales coming out to USD 110 million year-to-date through September. Alaby also envisions a potential for the state to supply Arab countries like nuts, fish, coffee, maize, fruit and livestock. “Rondônia boasts fertile ground and no water-related problems to speak of,” the Arab Chamber CEO said.
Mucaje believes that the state of Rondônia, the Afrochamber and the Arab Chamber could work together to bring local farming technology to African countries, with funding provided by Arab countries. He explained that the Afrochamber is already working in tandem with the state, and that the latest edition of the Rondônia Rural Show was attended by delegates from 12 African countries. The Afrochamber is also working synergistically and in partnership with the Arab Chamber.
Late in the afternoon, the leaders involved in hosting the meeting discussed how to keep building ties in Arab-African-Rondonian trade. Camata told ANBA that he was pleased with the event, which surpassed his expectations when it comes to the ideas and proposals that were vented to follow through with the work that’s being done.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
