São Paulo – This Wednesday (24) São Paulo state governor João Doria announced he will visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from June 14 to 18 in order to meet with representatives of investment funds. According to him, the priority is to attract investments for infrastructure, agribusiness and real estate sector. The schedule was announced during a press conference for foreign correspondents at Palácio dos Bandeirantes in São Paulo. Around 25 international press journalists acting in Brazil were there, including an ANBA reporter.
According to the governor, the schedule will be in Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. “Out of the world’s ten greatest investment funds, eight are there. They are funds already established here in Brazil, with investments in ports, airports and infrastructure, which are our priorities in São Paulo government’s privatization agenda,” he declared, emphasizing that infrastructure will be a priority when approaching the Arab investment funds.
“Our second priority is agribusiness. The funds are very interested in agricultural development. Brazil is a great hub and São Paulo represents over 20% of the country’s agriculture production, besides being a leader in sugar, alcohol, orange and lime, and having an expressive presence in animal protein and grains such as coffee and soy,” he said.
The third priority sector in the talks with Arab funds is real estate development. “Arabs are generally very interested in real state in Brazil and more specifically in São Paulo in several fronts, corporate real estate, residencies, and hotel business, specially 4- and 5-stars hotels, and resorts,” he explained. According to information from São Paulo government, the state accounts for 32% of Brazilian economy.
Doria also said that the Autódromo de Interlagos, which is owned by the city of São Paulo, is expected to be privatized through an auction next year, and there is some interest from racecourse administrators from Abu Dhabi, where he traveled to while he was the mayor of São Paulo. “It is a privatization model and a tourism complex ideal for São Paulo, complete with hotels, houses and malls, an example of efficiency.” Anhembi will also be privatized through an auction planned to June.
When asked whether opening an office in Jerusalem to foster business with Israel – which was announced by the federal government – may affect the trade relation between the Arab countries and the state of São Paulo, Doria answered: “No comments.” It was the only question the governor refused to answer during the conference. Palestinians and Israelis claim sovereignty over Israel, and president Jair Bolsonaro’s action in favor of Israel has caused concern among the Arabs.
In addition to the Arab countries, the governor will also visit New York (United States) from May 10 to 15, London (United Kingdom) from June 6 to 11, and China from August 3 to 10. The state of São Paulo will open a business office in Shanghai. According to Doria, Bolsonaro will participate in this trip. The government is also going to Japan from September 18 to 21 where a new automotive joint investment between that country and São Paulo will be announced.
Doria also talked about the BRICS summit, an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The meeting will take place in Brazil in November this year, with meetings in Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba. “The leaders are all pre-confirmed. We are working on a joint schedule with Itamaraty and the Ministry of Economy to present joint programs within the BRICS agenda, and we are arranging a reception to be confirmed here at Palácio dos Bandeirantes; it is a very important agenda to discuss economic and political issues between the countries, and it puts Brazil in the international media,” he stressed.
About Argentina, Doria said he is an admirer and a friend of the president Mauricio Macri, hopes Macri will be reelected and the country resumes its economic growth to maintain its good trade relations with Brazil. “I like his liberal policy. I know Argentina’s financial struggle, but I think if he works deftly and respects political, economical and social conditions, the country will resume its growth, a country that is a great trade partner for Brazil and São Paulo.”
The governor also announced that the federal government has handed São Paulo General Trading Post and Warehouse Company (CEAGESP, acronym in Portuguese), Latin America’s largest supply utility, to the state government. He said the land where CEAGESP is now, which belongs to the federal government, will become an International Technology and Innovation Center, or an “urban Silicon Valley” similar to the American one.
According to Doria, CEAGESP, will be relocated to an area six times bigger, with an easier access to Porto de Santos, address still to be released, “to avoid land speculation.” We will announce when the time is right, but it is a area relatively close to the city of São Paulo,” he told.
Other authorities at the conference included São Paulo vice-governor Rodrigo Garcia, Finance and Planning secretary Henrique Meirelles, Foreign Affairs secretary Julio Serson, Economic Development secretary Patrícia Ellen, Education secretary Rossielli Soares, Civil Police executive secretary Youssef Abou Chahin, Communication secretary Cleber Mata, Healthcare secretary José Henrique German, Metropolitan Transports secretary Alexandre Baldy, and Logistics and Transports secretary João Octaviano.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
