São Paulo – The city of São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo, is interested in attracting Arab investment, mainly in the areas of tourism and port logistics. This information was disclosed by the mayor of the city, Luiz Marinho, who participated yesterday (26th) in the opening of the 1st International Forum of Multilateral Economic and Commercial Relations.
“The idea behind this event is to shorten routes and distances, to show those interested in investing in Brazil that there is a city called São Bernardo do Campo and that we can offer from products for consumption to investment opportunities,” said the mayor. The forum included the ambassadors of over 15 countries, among them Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait, as well as the consuls of other Arab countries and representatives of chambers of commerce, like the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, and the Foreign Relations vice president at the organisation, Helmi Nasr.
According to the mayor, the forum, which ends in the city today, should present to these diplomats the economic potential of São Bernardo do Campo. “We have an impressive industrial park,” said Marinho, who recalled the carmakers installed in the city, like Volkswagen, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Toyota. “São Bernardo do Campo is geographically well positioned to receive investment in logistics,” added the mayor, saying that the city is located 45 kilometres away from the Port of Santos and 20 kilometres away from the city of São Paulo.
According to the International Relations secretary of the city of São Bernardo. Evandro de Lima, the city already has good relations with the Arab market, as one of the companies responsible for halal certification of chicken is in the city. “Many chicken exporters need to come by the city,” he said. With regard to investment, the secretary believes that it would be interesting for Arabs to invest in hotel networks and in resorts in the city. “There is currently great demand and we cannot supply it,” he added.
The city of São Bernardo has around 800,000 inhabitants, in an area of 408 square kilometres, being 53% waterway protection area, due to Billings reservoir; the city represents 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Brazil and 2.9% of the country’s exports.
Recovery
According to the Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, Brazil is living a moment of recovery. “It is the moment to show the potential of the country,” he said, referring to the fact that the country has lived through the global crisis. The minister mentioned, for example, that indices of job generation in the country are rising, there has been growth of the GDP, of industry and trade, investment has returned and exports are on the rise. “All of these indices show that we have overcome the crisis,” he said.
The 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics alongside the exploration of the pre-salt layer of oil were mentioned at the event as great opportunities to invest in Brazil. “Urban investment due to the great events the country is going to host is another challenge the country will face,” said the head minister of the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs, Samuel Pinheiro Guimarães.
*Translated by Mark Ament
