São Paulo – The members of the Syrian Expatriate Advisory Council are in São Paulo for promotion of their 8th meeting. The event, which takes place every year, had its last edition in Austria, in 2009. This year, the main objective of the meeting is discussion of possibilities for greater trade, tourism and investment relations between Brazil and Syria.
“This annual meeting of the council in São Paulo follows the visit by Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad to Brazil, when he strengthen the “historic ties between both countries and friendly people,” said Joseph Sweid, minister of Expatriates of Syria, in an interview to ANBA, prior to the Arab delegation watching a presentation by the Tom Jobim Youth Orchestra, at the Ibirapuera Park Auditorium.
“Syrian executives are also working to play an important part in increasing trade between Arabs and Brazilians. Salim Schahin is the president of the Brazil-Syria Business Council, on the Brazilian side, and this strengthens our relations in the economic, investment, tourism and government sectors,” added the minister.
Salim Taufiq Schahin, who is a member of the Council of Expatriates and president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, also pointed out the importance of the visit by the Syrian president to Brazil and by Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the Arab country. According to him, after these events, important contacts for mutual cooperation were started.
“The main matter to be discussed tomorrow (during the event) is the possibility of establishing a great forum between Brazil and Syria, with the possible travel of several ministers to show what Syria is to the Brazilians. We may exchange ideas and invest in Syria, to expand trade relations, tourism and investment on both sides,” he said.
Apart from the meeting taking place on Saturday (20), the group should visit the Syrian Home on Sunday (21).
*Translated by Mark Ament
