São Paulo – The search for investments prioritizing sustainability is one of the goals Brazilian and Arab executives addressed during the Brazil – UAE Amazon Economic Sustainability Forum (pictured above) this Sunday (3) in Dubai. The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority CEO, Marwan Al Serkal, pointed out the institution’s new focus is on green technology and food safety.
“With the pandemic, we needed to rethink our focus. We cannot just go on as it was before. So, the strategy now is to invest in sectors such as food security,” said Al Serkal. In addition to green technologies, education remains a focus in the emirate of Sharjah. “We are also an educational center. Sharjah plans to have a student center; we try to invest in this alongside the government,” he concluded.
Al Serkal’s address occurred during the panel “Sustainable Economy and Business – Leadership Experiences in the UAE and Brazil.” The forum was organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), and, in addition to having an on-site audience, it was broadcast live over the internet.
The COO of Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), Feryal Ahmadi, stressed the company has been implementing changes driven by the framework of recent years. “The changes we are experiencing are bringing a digital transformation. We are transforming to offer digital services. You can register and open a company in Dubai without having to visit our government in person,” said Ahmadi. The executive explained the processes are part of the advancements in intelligent governance in the sector in the Arab country.
The forum takes place during the opening week of Expo 2020 Dubai, a world’s fair marking the return of large-scale on-site events. Also at the discussion, Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of Dubai Investment Development Corporation and president of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), recalled the importance of Expo 2020 in catalyzing new investment focuses. “This Expo is not like others, because the pandemic undermined some opportunities. But there are other opportunities, such as those related to sustainability, which we will discuss here,” pointed out Gergawi.
Among the steps to optimize the use of natural resources is the improvement in global logistics. One of the initiatives for this was highlighted by Mahmoud Al Bastaki, Executive Director of Operations at DP World. He spoke about the World Logistics Passport (WLP) – Dubai Trade and Logistics. The passport already has 200 participants from 25 countries. “It is a global network. There are different tiers, and each has its benefits. The idea is to have a better transport flow. It is a concept of a green corridor, and it already exists in Brazil,” he explained, noting among the benefits to members are better cost, time, and access to new markets.
From Brazil
From Brazil, Ted Lago, president of the Itaqui Port, participated remotely in the panel. The executive representing the port, located in the state of Maranhão, pointed out to support sustainability, it is necessary to think about logistics and investments. “Grain output has increased and gone from the Center to the North of Brazil, but we are still protecting the Amazon Forest. We have the right infrastructure for that,” he explained.
Also from Brazil, spoke Paulo Pianez, director of Sustainability at Marfrig meat processing company. “The concentration of livestock is mainly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Marfrig has 40% of its production in the Amazon. So we can see how important the efforts to reconcile quality production with forest conservation are,” he said.
The panel was moderated by Jamal Al Jarwan, secretary-general of the UAE International Investors Council (UAEIIC). He recalled the legislation in the UAE is one of the most attractive for foreign investment. “For me, there are three elements that work very closely together. Investments from the UAE in Brazil, those of Brazilians in the UAE, and, of course, trade itself. Brazil is vital to the UAE,” he said.
The ABCC hosted the forum in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), the Brazilian Embassy in the UAE, and the Dubai Chamber. It took place at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai, parallel to Expo 2020.
Read more on the Brazil – UAE Amazon Economic Sustainability Forum:
- Brazil, UAE could grow together through innovation
- JBS Fund for Amazon plans on raising BRL 1 billion by 2030
- Economic development linked with sustainability a challenge
- Brazil – UAE partnership overcame COVID’s challenges
Watch the full event on YouTube:
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
