São Paulo – São Paulo mayor João Dória Júnior got off a plane on Sunday (12) in the United Arab Emirates for a packed investor-seeking schedule. Besides speaking with local investment funds, Dória visited the Abu Dhabi race track, and he will give a lecture during the World Government Summit, a meeting of world leaders taking place this week in Dubai.
Over the week, Dória will sit down for meetings with several investment funds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and in Doha, Qatar to discuss the privatizations program he plans to roll out in São Paulo, spanning everything from bus terminals to landmarks such as the Pacaembu Stadium and the Interlagos race track.
“[It is] the most vigorous privatizations program ever in a Brazilian municipality. For that end, we need international investors who believe in Brazil,” Dória explained in a video uploaded on social media. “These investments will translate into new investments, new opportunities, and economic and social development.”
On Monday (13), the mayor and Brazil’s ambassador to the UAE, Paulo César Vasconcellos, convened with delegates from investment funds ADIA and Mubadala, and from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dória declined to comment on the agenda, but in another social media video he mentioned how well the Chamber had welcomed him.
“They were enthused about the investment opportunities we laid out to them under our privatizations program. Here, specifically, they are very clearly interested in the Pacaembu Stadium. Soccer is very popular around here. Real estate also attracts a lot of interest,” he said.
The mayor also discussed the mission that the Abu Dhabi Chamber will have to Brazil in May; São Paulo will be a key destination.
The mayor also met with executives from the First Gulf Bank, one of the UAE’s biggest, and a visit to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina race track. Dória recorded an enthusiastic video after visiting the place:
“This track is an example to look up to when it comes to private administration. A big complex comprising a hotel, the race track, and shopping malls. What once was nothing but a desert area is now a major entertainment hub that’s home not only to Formula 1 races, but other motor sports, music, and sports events,” the mayor asserted. According to him, his is what his administration is shooting for with the Interlagos race course.
On Tuesday (14) Dória is set to speak at the World Government Summit, in Dubai – media outlets have reported that Dória’s trip to the UAE was paid for by the summit, and that the costs of his visit to Doha were met by the Qatari government. The mayor returns to São Paulo on Sunday (19).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
