São Paulo – The meeting of heads of state of the Arab and South American countries, scheduled to take place on October 1st and 2nd of this year, in Lima, the capital of Peru, should also include space for business. Businessmen from both regions are going to meet to discuss trade and investment opportunities in the first day of the Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa), at a site yet to be defined. The Ministry of Foreign Relations of Peru and the Foreign Trade Society of Peru, which organize the event, hope for 400 businessmen to participate.
The president at the Arab-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce, Hamed Abou Zahr, believes that this is a good moment for business between Arabs and South Americans. “The Arab world needs new partners and South America has economic and financial stability, which makes it a possible destination for Arab business,” says the president, pointing out the good moment lived by Peru and Brazil. “They are the greatest forces in South America,” said Zahr.
According to Zahr, stability of the government and the currency make Peru a safe haven for investment. The country grew around 7% last year and has projects in the areas of airports, roads, mining and agriculture. “We have water, we have areas for agriculture, and there may be a food crisis, prices are on the rise, it is necessary to cultivate more,” says the president of the Arab-Peruvian Chamber, showing an opportunity for the Arabs. He recalled that the Arabs have business in Peru, in the areas of ports and gas.
Currently, trade between Peru and the Arab world around US$ 600 million. “It is very recent,” stated Zahr. Meetings between businessmen should foster more business. “It will be a space where businessmen from both regions may formulate proposals for economic and business cooperation,” says the Ministry of Foreign Relations through a press statement. At the occasion, an Arabic edition of the 2012-2013 Business and Investment Guide will be issued,” about Peru, developed by consultancy company Ernst & Young and the Ministry.
This should be the third meeting between heads of state of South America and the Arab countries. The first, in 2005, was in Brazil, at the initiative of then president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The second took place in Qatar, in 2008. The third Aspa was scheduled to take place last year, but was postponed due to the Arab Spring. According to information recently disclosed by Agência Brasil, the participation of president Dilma Rousseff is forecasted at the event in Lima.
This year’s ASPA should be preceded by a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of both regions, on September 28, in New York, on the eve of the 67th Assembly General of the United Nations. The information was disclosed by the Peruvian Foreign Ministry and, according to the Ministry, talks should continue on the 1st, in Lima. On the 2nd, there should be the meeting of heads of state. ASPA should take place at the institutions of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, but the opening of the event will be at the National Theatre.
*Translated by Mark Ament
