Dubai – In office since July, the new Brazilian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos, is intent on developing diplomatic and commercial ties between Brazil and the Arab country even further. At the Big 5 construction industry fair, held in Dubai from November 17th to 20th, he told this ANBA reporter that although the two countries are already on good terms, progress can be made, Brazil and the UAE can work on joint projects in other countries, and investment from the UAE’s sovereign funds can be attracted into Brazil.
“I want to maintain and increase relations between Brazil and the UAE, which are already moving forward at full tilt. This year, for the first time ever, the prime-minister visited Brazil (Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in April) and our trade with the UAE is doing well; the trade balance is heavily tipped in Brazil’s favour, with a US$ 2 billion surplus, which is great,” he said. “One of my goals will be to work on exports; I want to attend as many fairs as possible, to take part in trade missions and find new contacts,” said Vasconcellos, who took office in UAE capital Abu Dhabi following a stint at the Brazilian embassy in Thailand.
The diplomat also said he will work to channel investment from the UAE’s sovereign funds into projects in Brazil. “Another goal is to increase investment by sovereign funds in Brazil. These are institutions with vast amounts of cash to invest. Some examples are the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) and Mubadala, which already has investments in Brazil. The Adia has never invested in Brazil, but has shown keen interest in infrastructure, for instance. The minister of the Brazilian Secretariat for Ports has been here (to the UAE). We need to take Emiratis to Brazil to see projects like Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC, the Growth Acceleration Program). These funds are looking to diversify their investments, and Latin America is a new frontier,” he said.
Partnerships and diplomacy
The diplomat also remarked that the two countries can work in tandem in other areas. “We sustain agreements for triangular cooperation, i.e. Brazil and the UAE can work together in other less economically developed countries. Palestine and Egypt are a few examples,” he said.
Vasconcellos also said he plans on organizing a meeting with Emirati diplomats in 2015, because he believes the country sets an example within the region. “We must hear their views on the region’s issues, because the UAE have achieved success and are an example of what modern Islam can be,” he said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
