Florianópolis – Saudi Arabia is interested in becoming more closely acquainted with the agribusiness industry of the state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, for possible investment and to increase its imports from the state. The information was supplied by the governor of the state, Luiz Henrique da Silveira, who was visited yesterday (15) by the Saudi ambassador to Brazilian capital Brasília, Mohamad Amin Ali Kurdi, at his official residency, Casa d’Agronômica, in state capital Florianópolis. Kurdi is on an official visit to the state and met with the governor alongside the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Salim Taufic Schahin, the secretary general of the organisation, Michel Alaby, and his advisor, Wail Hababi.
“This is the ambassador’s first trip to Santa Catarina, but according to him, it will not be the last. The ambassador promised a second visit to have a close look at our agribusiness system. Saudi Arabia is an emerging nation and offers great possibilities for exchange and complementariness with our state,” said Luiz Henrique after receiving the diplomat.
According to the governor, the state already exports agribusiness products, such as chicken meat, to the Saudi market. According to Luiz Henrique, the state also sells engines and ceramic products, fields in which sales can be increased. Furthermore, opportunities for new segments may be found, such as software for company management, a sector that has been developing and standing out in the state.
“The state of Santa Catarina is an important exporter of agribusiness products to the Middle East,” said Schahin. The Arab Brazilian Chamber would like to see more investment from Arab countries – including Saudi Arabia – in Brazil, as well as Brazilian investment in the Saudi and Arab markets, according to Schahin. “We regard Saudi Arabia as a huge partner,” says the president of the organisation. From January to March this year, Brazil posted revenues of US$ 409 million from exports to the Saudis.
A significant share of Brazilian exports to Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of this year came from Santa Catarina. The state posted US$ 108.3 million in revenues from sales to the Saudis between January and March. There was growth of 7.5% over the same period of 2008, when revenues totalled to US$ 100.8 million. Topping the list of products sold are chicken meats, followed by engines and wood. The state is a large producer of chicken, and is home to exporting companies such as Perdigão and Sadia. “We have come to discuss possibilities for cooperation,” says ambassador Kurdi.
Catastrophe
The main reason for the visit of the Saudi ambassador to Santa Catarina, however, was the peculiar situation that the state finds itself in, as a consequence of the rains that caused deaths and losses late last year and in early 2009. “I came here to survey the affected areas,” said the diplomat. In addition to talking to the executive secretary of Justice and Citizenship, Justiniano Francisco de Almeida Pedroso, Kurdi also flew in a helicopter over several cities in the state, including Blumenau, which were affected by the rains.
A total of 108 municipalities in Santa Catarina were harmed by the rain. Besides the floods, which left houses under water, there were landslides as well, which engulfed homes and their residents. The death toll was 135. Most of the deceased were buried alive. On November 22nd and 23rd alone, it rained more than twice the monthly average in some municipalities.
One third of the state – 34% of the population – was affected, with 2 million people harmed. A total of 23 state roads were damaged, as was the Itajaí Port, which answers to a large share of the state’s economy. The director of Civil Defence of the state, Márcio Luiz Alves, presented the figures to the Saudi ambassador. According to his explanation, the state had landslides in 4,000 different points. Kurdi should remain in the capital of Santa Catarina until Thursday (16th).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
